November 28, 2023
Nuclear Power: Mechanical Engineering at the Heart of Energy Sovereignty
As a cornerstone of technical fields alongside electrical engineering and ventilation, mechanical engineering is at the heart of the nuclear industry’s revival. At the WNE trade show, Equans announced the launch of Mecanuc, a new brand dedicated to these strategic fields, aimed at meeting technological challenges and ensuring our energy independence.
An in-depth look with Pascal Rauner, President of Mecanuc.
In what ways is mechanical engineering a foundational field in the nuclear industry?
Without utility systems, facilities cannot operate. Mechanical engineering is, in fact, a combination of areas of expertise essential to the proper functioning of these facilities. Mechanical engineering encompasses all piping-related activities involved in designing, installing, and operating the various systems necessary for the operation of nuclear facilities.
The systems required for power plant operation include steam systems, cooling water piping, dry risers for the fire protection system, demineralized water piping, and helium circuits. Other systems involve the supply of compressed air, which ensures operational reliability and maintenance while safeguarding the facilities. To support operators during the operation and maintenance phases, breathing air is obviously essential, as are drainage systems for condensate and contaminated water. To ensure the proper distribution of all these elements, extensive piping networks must be designed, seamlessly integrated into the plant’s design and coordinated with the other systems.
But mechanical engineering does not stop at these complex networks. It also involves the installation of heavy and bulky components. Installing rotating machinery or dryer units, for example, in confined spaces requires specialized lifting equipment or the erection of temporary structural frameworks.
What are the mechanical developments specific to the nuclear industry?
All mechanical requirements naturally meet the specific needs of the nuclear industry. Traceability is therefore the key to all our projects. At the slightest alert or failure, it is imperative to be able to trace the issue immediately back up the entire chain, all the way to the manufacturer and through the installer. This traceability allows us to anticipate difficulties and ensure that facilities meet nuclear safety requirements. Advances in technology—and digital innovation in particular—enable the creation of 3D or 4D models that incorporate operational scheduling. As valuable decision-support tools
, these solutions help optimize on-site coordination and ensure better adherence to deadlines.
Mechanical engineering also includes related services, such as setting up logistics hubs to facilitate the supply flow to installation sites. As part of the ITER project, we designed a hub to manage requests and their delivery to the construction site. Certain components specific to the nuclear industry are sensitive and require an environment suited to their protection and preservation. Here again, innovations are invaluable. At the ITER construction site, this service—which is essential to the project’s success—has been implemented to the full satisfaction of users and the end client, while complying with nuclear safety requirements.
How can we meet the immense technical and human challenges posed by nuclear power?
The industry’s strong recovery requires us to evolve our methods and adapt them to the current context. We must firmly adopt a project management approach with a holistic vision. We need to be proactive and have a comprehensive understanding of the entire supply chain in order to address safety, security, and quality requirements, as well as coordination and schedule management... Projects are on the rise, not only in France but also in the United Kingdom and throughout Europe. Given its foundational role, mechanical engineering has a significant need for specialized and experienced technicians. The welding profession is indispensable and highly strategic. It takes years of training and hands-on experience to meet the high standards and quality requirements in the nuclear industry. Today, to address the shortage of welders, we must optimize every task they perform. The scarcer the resources, the more we must focus on efficiency in the field. This also requires partnerships that are only possible with a thorough mutual understanding of nuclear culture.
Innovation, digitalization, and training: mechanical engineering stands at a crossroads as it seeks to strengthen its contribution to maintaining European energy sovereignty.