First generation nuclear power plants were built onsite with large construction forces over a number of years using a design that was being revised during construction. Vendor supplied equipment skids were the closest thing to modular building techniques at that time. Modularization techniques are available today as a tool for performing parallel construction activities such as fabrication and assembly of components offsite to support the construction cost and schedule goals of a project. Accordingly, extensive planning and coordination is required by engineering, procurement, fabricators, and construction to support modularization.

The importance of developing a strategy for the utilization of modularization to the Nuclear Industry, Owners, and Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) entities, cannot be over emphasized, ensuring the development of a Corporate Modularization Fabrication Strategy, which incorporates and addresses the following, various elements:

• Project Modularization Plan

• Definitions and terms for module, modularization, and on-off-site fabrication

• Module types • Modularization boundaries

• Work processes for interface between Engineering, Procurement, Fabricator, and Quality to allow good communication between entities

• Constructability reviews • Modularization schedule linked to integrated project schedule

• Compliance with approved procedures and Quality Program requirements

• Commitment from management

This paper and presentation will discuss and highlight the following for a typical Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR) application:

• Typical Corporate Modularization Fabrication Strategy;

• Typical Modularization Concepts;

• Modularization: Friend or Foe.

This content is only available via PDF.
You do not currently have access to this content.