US nuclear reactors need digital upgrades for instrumentation, control systems

America’s commercial nuclear reactors need digital technology upgrades at their plants, according to a report by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI).

“If we can’t innovate, we can’t continue to operate,” NEI Chief Nuclear Officer Bill Pitesa said.

Nearly all U.S. nuclear utilities having extended their reactors’ operating lifetimes to 60 years and in some cases 80 years, making the need for digital upgrades even more critical.

The U.S. lags Japan, France, China, South Korea, Russia and the United Kingdom in the use of digital I&C systems for their reactors. A main reason is there simply have not been that many new reactors built in the United States. since the 1970s. Also, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s regulations have discouraged industry innovations such as upgrading plant instrumentation and control (I&C) systems to digital technologies.

However, that seems to be changing. Last week, the NRC issued an endorsement of industry guidance on upgrading nuclear plant I&C systems to digital.

The NRC’s recently updated regulatory issue summary (RIS) outlined how reactor owners can use “qualitative assessments” to show that digital I&C modifications to safety-related systems will not increase the likelihood of system malfunctions due to software or other issues.

“Digital I&C shows it can enhance safety, reliability, and efficiency while addressing the issue of obsolescence of analog components,” Pitesa said.

Going forward, NEI will set up informational and training workshops among industry and NRC inspectors on digital upgrades to these systems.