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.
