Key Issues
Expanded Manufacturing Capacity Needed to Support New Nuclear Plant Construction
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Identifying Capacity Constraints
NEI’s study evaluated key components that could be “pinch points” as new-plant construction accelerates. These components include:
The study outlined seven categories of constraints:
Component Design and Engineering. Vendors must submit final component requirements to suppliers before manufacturing can begin in order to meet the individual specifications of each project. Detailed reactor designs have yet to be completed, but designers are providing suppliers with new specifications as they are developed to avoid project delays.
Raw Material Supply. There is a limited availability of raw materials (defined as any input material, such as steel sheeting) for many plant components, including steam generators, pumps, heat exchangers, valves, and alloy and stainless steel piping. Prolonged procurement of raw materials could result in extended lead times and higher costs to manufacture these components.
Subcomponent Supply. Just as constraints on raw material supply could delay construction, so could limits on the supply of subcomponents or those items—from processed raw materials to entire sub-systems—required to produce a given component.
Specialized Training and Supervision of the Manufacturing Work Force. The procurement, manufacturing and assembly of nuclear plant parts involve personnel who are trained in company procedures and nuclear quality assurance procedures. Without skilled workers and qualified supervisors, manufacturers will have difficulty fulfilling orders for components on schedule.
Identifying Capacity Constraints
NEI’s study evaluated key components that could be “pinch points” as new-plant construction accelerates. These components include:
- reactor pressure vessels
- steam generators
- moisture separator reheaters
- turbine generators
- nuclear-grade pumps
- nuclear-grade heat-exchangers
- nuclear-grade valves
- transformers
- large-bore seamless piping
- plant simulators
- nuclear-grade batteries
- nuclear-grade mechanical insulation.
The study outlined seven categories of constraints:
Component Design and Engineering. Vendors must submit final component requirements to suppliers before manufacturing can begin in order to meet the individual specifications of each project. Detailed reactor designs have yet to be completed, but designers are providing suppliers with new specifications as they are developed to avoid project delays.
Raw Material Supply. There is a limited availability of raw materials (defined as any input material, such as steel sheeting) for many plant components, including steam generators, pumps, heat exchangers, valves, and alloy and stainless steel piping. Prolonged procurement of raw materials could result in extended lead times and higher costs to manufacture these components.
Subcomponent Supply. Just as constraints on raw material supply could delay construction, so could limits on the supply of subcomponents or those items—from processed raw materials to entire sub-systems—required to produce a given component.
Specialized Training and Supervision of the Manufacturing Work Force. The procurement, manufacturing and assembly of nuclear plant parts involve personnel who are trained in company procedures and nuclear quality assurance procedures. Without skilled workers and qualified supervisors, manufacturers will have difficulty fulfilling orders for components on schedule.