Robbie Lyons

• PhD
• University of Cambridge

This paper presents an offsite modular construction approach, subject to transport constraints, for nuclear power plants. The modular construction principles underlying this work are generalizable across different reactor types; however, this paper focuses only on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) that are of the Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) type. E...

Whilst it is conventionally thought that SMRs will always produce more expensive power than large reactors, by the application of the series build and production engineering SMR can be competitive with both large reactors and with other sources of low-carbon energy.

Analyses into the economics of small modular reactors show that making use of standardisation and modularisation could reduce capital costs.

This thesis examines the opportunity presented by small modular reactors (SMRs) to bring down the cost of nuclear power. The economies of scale that have traditionally driven nuclear vendors to design larger reactors can be overcome for small reactors by the combination of standardisation of design, modularisation of the build process, and progress...

Results of Research on standardisation, modularisation and production learning to make SMRs economically competitive - showing that they can be competitive with large reactors on a 'first of a series' basis and competitive with other forms of low-carbon energy for a reasonably sized programme of build.

One of the key drivers of the decision, in 2008, for the UK to replace its older gas-cooled reactors, was the need to cut carbon emissions. UK has committed to cutting emissions from 1990 levels by 80% before 2050. It has made significant progress by: a reduction in manufacturing; cleaning up power generation, moving generation from coal to gas and...

Results from projects analysing how LWR-based SMRs can become economic by applying the principles of standardisation, modularisation and production learning to off-set the dis-economies of scale. The models use open source data and methods. The conditions and limits for success are defined.

Small modular reactors (SMRs) are presented as an opportunity to implement nuclear power at lower capital cost through factory manufacture, and thereby overcome a significant challenge facing current large nuclear construction projects. Cost reductions are intended to be realised through the implementation of three principles: modularisation, givin...