For further details about this year's event, please visit the event website.
Please could you briefly explain your role, involvement, and experience with regards to Nuclear Ventilation and the IMechE’s 11th Nuclear Ventilation Conference?
Ian Davies-Kerwin (IDK): I am a Principal Inspector with the Office for Nuclear Regulation. My specialism is Mechanical Engineering. I have been in the nuclear industry for the best part of 22 years and although ventilation is not something I specialised in, I have been involved with it from a designer’s perspective, a dutyholder’s perspective in terms of installation, operation and periodic safety reviews, and now from a regulatory perspective. I am co-presenting on behalf of ONR on developments in guidance, ageing management and innovation from a regulatory perspective.
Jerome Allison (JA): I am an inspector with the Office for Nuclear Regulation, specialising in Mechanical Engineering. My experience with Nuclear Ventilation has mainly been in the regulation of operational facilities and regulatory research in the ageing and degradation of High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration. I will also be co-presenting on behalf of ONR.
What, in your experience, has been the biggest roadblock for utilising innovative technologies in your sector?
IDK: There are a couple of key aspects I see as a barrier to progress. The first is a lack of understanding as to what is available and the extent to which it can or could be used within the nuclear industry. The second is around the short-term costs of developing and/or implementing those into existing organisations. These are often high and can stop innovation in its tracks.
I also want to continue ONR’s work challenging the myth that regulators like ONR won’t accept new technology and innovative solutions. The truth is, that the innovation can provide significant opportunities. I’d like to see the nuclear industry and its supply chain take advantage where it is in the interest of society and meets safety, security and safeguards expectations.
ONR has a key role in minimising regulatory uncertainty and burden around innovation, and is working with the sector to do so.
What key topics are you excited to discuss at this year's conference?
IDK: I would like to hear more about what dutyholders and the supply chain are using or considering in relation to digital technologies to aid design, manufacture, construction, operation and decommissioning. There is a lot of potential out there to drive efficiencies and improve safety and/or security.
JA: I’d be interested in hearing about new and innovative technologies in development which can provide appropriate safety in nuclear ventilation systems, whilst improving system efficiency and reducing energy demand, supporting net-zero ambitions.
What would you say are the technologies or applications to watch for the future?
IDK: High Strength HEPA Filters are something that are being considered now for certain applications. These are something to look out for in the near term.
I also believe that wider application of Building Information Modelling (BIM) into the nuclear industry, together with designs using digital tools, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), to aid aspects such as manufacture, installation, provide and manage data to inform future operations is something that the future holds.
JA: I believe the use of condition monitoring, in combination with AI assisted diagnostics has potential to enhance operational safety, especially in the use of predictive maintenance and inspection of nuclear ventilation systems. I’d be interested to hear if this is being considered and what progress has been made.
Who else are you most interested in hearing from on the programme?
IDK: From a regulatory perspective, all of the speakers’ topics are of interest. Personally, the NDA’s presentation on digital asset management and presentations from new build are of interest to me as I work in the New Reactors Division in ONR. I am also very interested to hear from speakers on innovation.
JA: The presentations on HEPA filtration ageing and high strength HEPA filter development are of interest to me as I’m supporting regulatory research in this area. I’m also interested in the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) presentation, to understand how ventilation systems might be modularised to aid in construction simplicity and realise the intended construction method for SMRs.
Why is it important for engineers to join this conference?
IDK: Ventilation and its correct design, manufacture, installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance and use through a facility’s lifetime is essential in managing the risks from nuclear and radiological material. The more people that appreciate this, understand where developments are being made, obtain a diverse perspective and form networks across the industry, the better the through-life hazards may be controlled.
The Nuclear Ventilation 2023 conference will take place on 14-15 November 2023 in Manchester.
Taking place every two years and now in its 11th successive iteration, this two-day conference is the only event of its kind that enables power industry professionals and engineering practitioners from all sectors of the nuclear community to stay abreast of developments in nuclear ventilation within the UK.
For further details about this year's event, please visit the event website.