Speaker
Description
Innovative Small Modular Reactors (i-SMRs) introduce fundamentally different design characteristics compared with conventional large nuclear power plants, including integral reactor configurations, compact containment, multi-module deployment, extended fuel cycles, and highly automated operation. In particular, i-SMRs are designed for coordinated multi-module operation, requiring integrated monitoring and control of multiple reactor modules to achieve safe and efficient plant operation. Under the Industry 4.0 paradigm, these unique operational and structural characteristics make it essential to adopt a digital twin framework built upon a structured Requirements Management (RM) system and system architecture.
To address these challenges, this study proposes a lifecycle-oriented methodology for integrating digital twin technology into i-SMRs. Unlike conventional nuclear power plants, where digital twins are mainly introduced during the operational phase, the proposed methodology establishes a requirements-driven digital twin architecture from the early design phase and continuously utilizes it throughout construction, commissioning, operation, and maintenance. By incorporating structured requirements engineering and domain element models from inception, the framework links physics-based simulation models with real-time operational data to establish a highly reliable, unified virtual representation of the plant. This enables high-precision design verification, multi-module operational support, operator decision support, and predictive maintenance across the entire plant lifecycle.
To support key milestones of the i-SMR project—securing Standard Design Approval (SDA) by 2028 and completing the First-Of-A-Kind (FOAK) plant by 2035—this study presents a methodology for integrating a structured Requirements Management (RM) system and system architecture into the digital twin framework. By directly embedding technical requirements and regulatory guidelines into the virtual plant from inception, the proposed approach enables rigorous design verification and validation (V&V), minimizes engineering and licensing risks, and ensures long-term operational reliability across the plant lifecycle.
| Classification | Mainly application |
|---|---|
| Keywords | i-SMR, Digital Twin |