Institution news
Q: Could you briefly explain your role and involvement in nuclear ventilation?
PD (Philip Dixon): For the past ten years I have been an employee of Sellafield Ltd. working on the Sellafield site for the specialist Ventilation Technical Support Group (VTSG). For the past six years I have been focused on supporting Sellafield’s critical risk and hazard reduction programme. My main role in this is to lead the commissioning of new ventilation systems on major projects.
Q: What is the number one challenge facing engineers working in nuclear ventilation in today’s current market?
PD: There is an ever growing necessity to incorporate energy savings and efficiencies into nuclear ventilation on historic sites like Sellafield. Although the primary goal of maintaining containment cannot be compromised, engineers must now substantiate new technologies that will enable old and new nuclear ventilation systems to provide energy efficient and sustainable containment.
Q: What is the most exciting development in this field at the moment, either within your organisation or in the industry in general?
PD: Nuclear sites like Sellafield are transitioning from a site focused upon reprocessing to a site focused on the delivery of decommissioning and hazard reduction. In terms of nuclear ventilation this is an exciting development as there will be necessity to reassess the requirements for nuclear ventilation and containment in buildings which enter the post operational phase. In addition this, the transition provides a window of opportunity for ventilation engineers to look at innovative ways of utilising both permanent and temporary ventilation to help safely deliver the decommissioning requirements.
Q: Where do you see the future of nuclear ventilation and containment going over the next 5 – 10 years?
PD: I cannot see the fundamental safety principles of nuclear ventilation and containment changing over the next 5 – 10 years, for example, filtration criteria and required containment velocities etc. However on sites like Sellafield, I believe we will see more and more pioneering temporary nuclear ventilation systems being used to help deliver the hazard reduction/decommissioning programmes.
Q: What topics are you most looking forward to discussing at this year’s conference?
PD: As part of my ongoing development I am currently heavily involved in expanding my knowledge of HEPA filtration, both in terms of technical knowledge and the commercial side of things. I am therefore particularly looking forward to the presentation on ‘Performance testing and qualification of advanced filter designs’.
Q: Why is it important for engineers to join events like this?
PD: For me, engineers within specialist fields of expertise like nuclear ventilation cannot simply look solely at implementing engineering solutions. They must be a fully rounded engineer that is aware of all aspects including; regulation, current research, design, commercial, supply etc. events like this provide an invaluable insight into numerous aspects. In addition to this, it is very easy when working on high security, high risk facilities like Sellafield to stick to proven engineering solutions used on site, however it is crucial that Engineers are aware of best practice across the nuclear industry.
Want to hear more?
The Nuclear Ventilation 2017 conference will take place on 28 - 29 November 2017 at the Manchester United Football Ground, Manchester. Attendees will learn about standards and solutions to challenges in key areas such as operational plants, decommissioning and containment, both for current projects and nuclear new builds.
All those involved with the design, operation and maintenance of nuclear HVAC systems, as well safety, risk and compliance professionals, are strongly recommended to attend and benefit from this year’s conference.