For further details and to register your place, visit the event website.
Please briefly explain your role, involvement, and experience with the nuclear industry
Jeremy Owston (JO): My role within the nuclear industry is two fold; As an employee of BAE Systems my main work is designing feedwater systems for nuclear propulsion systems. I also form part of team designing the steam plant associated with UK's naval nuclear programme all of which provides a unique insight into the complexities of designing nuclear power systems and steam plant systems in general.
In addition to my work on steam plants and feedwater systems in particular, I also am active in development of advanced reactor systems geared towards nuclear propulsion. Within this field I filed patents and published academic papers on whole reactor systems and specific control systems for direct cycle high temperature gas cooled reactors. The specific focus of my work in this area is on nitrogen cooled direct cycle HTGRs.
What is the top challenge facing your industry at present?
JO: There are two substantial challenges which are fundamentally linked, cost and schedule. At present delivery of a nuclear power plant is both two costly and has a schedule which is far to long to be appealing to potential financiers. The challenges are linked fundamentally as longer schedules create additional costs to both finance and in the hardware to build.
How would you say your industry has evolved over the past five years?
JO: The biggest change the industry is seeing is the influx of new players and start-ups who are presenting different vision for how nuclear power can be delivered. This involves technology, construction and delivery methods and financing methods. These companies are typically more dynamic and are prepared to take bigger financial risks on developing a set technology compared to incumbant businesses.
As with any industry new blood always has the advantage of less to lose and a lot more to gain compared to encumbant businesses. It is this dynamisim which can create change and innovation.
What developments are going on in your industry that may have an impact on the development of future nuclear reactor design?
JO: The area where there is some movement, although much more is to be done, is the availability and streamlining of regulation and planning. It is still at very early stages, however de-politiciesd groups such as Great British Nuclear could help significantly with the regulatory approval and planning both which are far too long.
My hope is that a clear and simple route from concept to construction can be laid out with clear and deliverable timeframes. This must be got down to less than 12 months for the UK to achieve our nuclear ambitions.
What will you be presenting at the ‘Advanced Nuclear Reactor Design’ seminar and how will this benefit participants?
JO: My presentation will focus on the one area which isn't so much the nuclear bit. Most reactor developers focus on the reactor technology whilst spending little time thinking how they are going to use the nuclear heat. This can be a mistake as it can lead to highly un-optimised overall plant solution where the heat engine costs dominate the plant design costs.
My presentation will touch on this subject and how the coice of the heat engine is critical in determining the overall plant size and design.
Which other speakers and presentations are you looking forward to hearing at the forthcoming seminar?
JO: I am interested in hearing from the Great British nuclear team on the progress and direction of GBN vehicle and how it is envisaged to enable new nuclear to be built in the UK.
Why is it important for engineers and industry to come together at this event and share best practice?
JO: We can get very silod in our work and can miss the bigger picture or how what we are doing could fit into the future world landscape. These events allow sharing of ideas and concepts to a wide and varied audience who can ask though provoking questions and challenge many of our assumptions going forward.
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.