For further details about this year's seminar and to book your place, visit the event website.
Please briefly explain your role, involvement, and experience with the nuclear industry
Ross Haddow (RH): I am a Managing Consultant working for Frazer-Nash Consultancy. I have a mechanical engineering background, specialising in the design and compliance of pressure equipment and assemblies. I started working in the nuclear industry in 2009 initially in defence and then transitioned through different employments to civil nuclear and advanced nuclear. The bulk of my experience relates to compliance of conventional pressure equipment to EU directives and UK regulations i.e., PED and PE(S)R), and compliance of nuclear pressure equipment excluded under this legislation. I worked for ~9.5 years for an EU Notified / UK Approved Body and during this time was the project manager responsible for delivered Independent Third Party Inspection Agency services to Hinkley Point C including design appraisal, manufacturing surveillance and supply chain audits in support of confirming compliance for nuclear pressure equipment.
What is the top challenge facing your industry at present?
RH: For start-ups and new projects, timely financing (or the absence of it) has a significant impact. For projects that are progressing at pace, availability and retention of resources and capabilities can also be a challenge. Particularly in the UK where expertise relatively speaking, are in quite a small pond which everyone is fishing in.
How would you say your industry has evolved over the past five years?
RH: The focus and availability of opportunities to work on nuclear projects has certainly increased, primarily due to new build, plant life extension and the desire to pursue advanced technologies. It is an exciting and attractive industry to work in today, especially compared to when I started in 2009.
What developments are going on in your industry that may have an impact on the development of future nuclear reactor design?
RH: As a consultancy we are privileged to support and work with organisations who are at the forefront of current and future fission reactor designs as well as nuclear fusion activities. Using advanced modelling and simulation techniques combined with data science expertise we can support, develop, and discover new processes for design and validation which could be applied to future nuclear technologies e.g. material selection and equipment design. The sheer breadth of different technologies being developed at present is incredible, and the sharing of best practice and lessons-learned from previous major nuclear projects is vital to influence schemes to ensure success. What is also very exciting is that vendors of new nuclear technologies are increasingly engaged with practices and techniques pioneered in other industries, for instance modularisation. Allied to this, nuclear’s potential new place at the heart of broader industry, for instance supporting hydrogen cogeneration, is having a huge bearing on innovative thought and engagement.
What will you be presenting at the ‘Advanced Nuclear Reactor Design’ seminar and how will this benefit participants?
RH: I will be presenting an overview of product compliance for UK Nuclear Power Plants. Specifically, which legislation may apply and how to follow, interpret and navigate them to ensure products are compliant before being put into use. Several UK product regulations will apply to any nuclear power station sited in the UK. Products excluded from UK Regulations due to being designed for specific nuclear use, also have separate requirements which must be fulfilled. The compliance process starts at the design stage and concludes when the product’s manufacture is complete and in anticipation of it being put into use. Therefore, it is legally and financially vital that governing regulations and requirements are identified and understood from the outset and baked into the programme for the design, manufacture and/or procurement of products. Product compliance in a UK context is equally important and at times subtly different to simply designing and manufacturing to a recognise code or standard.
Which other speakers and presentations are you looking forward to hearing at the forthcoming seminar?
RH: The breadth and variety of different topics which will be presented is great. Although I may have limited experience of them, I find data analysis and simulation activities fascinating. I am always interested to understand more about material challenges, fuel development and production as well as learning more about MoltexFLEX and their FLEX reactor.
Why is it important for engineers and industry to come together at this event and share best practice?
RH:
There is always value in meeting people face to face. I always come away from engagements like this having learned or discussed something that I was not expecting. Considering all the current opportunities and intent for the UK nuclear industry, this is a great opportunity to gain some visibility and oversight of ongoing workstreams being progressed and developed to realise the UK’s energy security and net zero ambitions.
The Advanced Nuclear Reactor Design 2023 seminar will take place on 3 October 2023 in Manchester
It will focalise the progress of Advanced Modular Reactors and Small Modular Reactors to capture the interest of technical innovators, manufacturers, designers, and government regulators.
Don't miss your chance to hear about the forefront of reactor design, optimisation, installation and management, with input, guidance and technical insights from UK Atomic Energy Authority, Rolls-Royce SMR, MoltexFlex, BAE Systems and many more.
For further details about this year's seminar and to book your place, visit the event website.