April 17, 2025

Equans France enhances reactor safety through its expertise in piping, nuclear engineering, and complex project management

Construction project for the Jules Horowitz Reactor (RJH), an experimental nuclear research reactor located at the CEA* site in Cadarache.

TechnicAtome, responsible for building the reactor vessel on behalf of the CEA, has selected MECANUC to manufacture the cooling and safety piping systems. This project aims to develop a state-of-the-art experimental reactor dedicated to the safety and performance of nuclear materials.

Réacteur Jules Horowitz

Technical and Organizational Challenges

The project presented several major challenges:

Multiple and complex manufacturing and assembly operations at the nuclear site.

Compliance of cooling systems with strict standards.

Sequencing of operations between different lots.

Meeting deadlines and staying within budget in a challenging environment.

MECANUC Solutions for the Jules Horowitz Reactor (JHR): The Technical, Regulatory, Organizational, and Safety Challenges of a High-Precision Nuclear Construction Project

MECANUC** has drawn on its expertise in managing complex technical projects, building on the experience gained working closely with the ITER project (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor)

Advanced Methods and Engineering

  • Off-site prefabrication of piping systems for:

    • Ultimate Core Cooling (RUC A/B)

    • Ultimate Pool Cooling (RUP A/B)

    • Pool Cooling (REP)

  • Prototyping of a water-block housing, validated using a 1:1 scale model, facilitating the layout of the sealing joint plans.

  • Manufacturing and adaptation drawings created based on BPE* drawings, including all necessary on-site measurements.

Organization and mobilization of technical experts

  • Structured project management inspired by the expertise developed on ITER.
  • Mobilization of experts in:
    • Nuclear welding
    • Regulations governing nuclear pressure equipment
    • Complex handling operations

Excellence and Compliance

  • Compliance with customer requirements regarding operational safety: ISO 19443 certification obtained in November 2024, ensuring safety, security, and technical compliance.

Key Figures for the RJH Nuclear Project: Equipment, Volumes, and Resources Mobilized

5
years of project duration
25
people involved
500
ml of prefabricated piping

Key Figures for the RJH Nuclear Project: Equipment, Volumes, and Resources Mobilized

5
years of project duration
25
people involved
500
ml of prefabricated piping
182
metal supports for 13 metric tons
2500
network-integrated components
182
metal supports for 13 metric tons
2500
network-integrated components

Installation of 5 plate heat exchangers, 4 tubular heat exchangers, 6 pumps, 121 valves, 27 valves and 7 check valves

* CEA: French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission

**MECANUC: "Mechanical" division of the Equans France group

BPE*: Approved for Execution

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