Precision Built Digital Twins for Nuclear Plants

Abstract

Purpose – to demonstrate that precise 3D lasers scans, when combined with accurately built 3D models, can help accurately plan and prove that ways of making modifications in the phase could be enhanced to save time and reduce work involved with Nuclear Plant Outages

Hypothesis – In the past when removing large components (for example a 9000HP Reactor Coolant Pump Motor) certain large objects previously identified and removed to replace the component were overly conservative and caused the additional work that was both unnecessary and costly in both time and resources. Retaining these objects in place as a result could possibly reduce costs and save the company money by maneuvering around them.

Tools Used – Sokkia Total Station, Faro Laser tracker, API Laser tracker, Faro Focus Laser Scanners, Spatial Analyzer, Faro Scene, Autodesk Inventor, Oculus Quests

Data Collected –

• Total stations and trackers were used to locate and validate points and locations in the Reactor Building for Accuracy of the Laser Scans taken

• Laser scans of the plants processed by building down to a mean target accuracy below 1/16”

• Point Clouds generated and utilized in Autodesk Inventor to construct the model

Summary – It was determined from utilizing the Inventor models generated from the point cloud via animation and clash detection that large structural members did not need to be removed. Additional smaller interferences were also able to be identified in the new travel path beforehand. This had a direct impact on overall outage downtime, project resource loading, and radiation dose exposure to the project team.