Development of Integrated Work Breakdown Structure for Small Modular Reactor Project

Abstract

Due to negative perception increased about nuclear power generation after Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in 2011, the importance of advanced nuclear reactor development is emphasized for innovative safety and security. Among Generation-Ⅳ systems, lead cooled fast reactor (LFR) has attracted most researchers because of safety characteristic of lead coolant. Lead coolant has inherent stability due to chemical inertness with air/water and high boiling point. Moreover, The Russian Federation has released impressive experiences of lead cooled reactor operation with ALFA-class nuclear propulsion submarine as well as key knowledge for the safety of LFR. Those experiences serve as one of principal bases in the commercialization of LFR. Small modular type of LFRs that are one of reference types of Gen-IV systems is suitable for load-follow operations for distributed power grid systems. Furthermore, LFRs can prove high maneuverability when they are employed as power sources for low-carbon ship propulsion, because of its excellent innate safety and long lasting core operation life. However, when an R&D team plans a project to develop safe Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and to carry out their commercial production, work breakdown structure (WBS) can be utilized for systematic and efficient approach. Main functions of WBS include, but not limited to, 1) defining the project scope, 2) schedule adjustment and 3) budget management. However, reference standard WBS for nuclear power plant (NPP) is not yet proposed. Literature review and analysis about the earlier WBS studies were conducted for development of standard WBS for NPP. On the basis of product oriented WBS system, NPP WBS of Korea and other country were searched. Based on these results, study about WBS for SMR project was proceeded. As a result, integrated WBS (IWBS) for SMR is suggested and IWBS coding system for this IWBS is defined. To verify IWBS for SMR, URANUS (Ubiquitous, Rugged, Accident-forgiving, Non-proliferating, and Ultra-lasting Sustainer) that was designed by NUTREK (Nuclear Transmutation Research Center of Korea) is selected for application of IWBS. URANUS is 100MWt conceptual reactor that adapts lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) coolant and natural circulation at primary system for inherent safety feature. In addition, IWBS is applied on pool-type mockup facility of URANUS construction project for more specific verification of usability. Through this study, ongoing study about WBS is analyzed and standard IWBS for SMR is proposed. Therefore, this study will give unity direction for SMR projects.