Input from the Construction Speed and Quality Working Group

1. Input from the Construction Speed and Quality Working Group Ken Barry July 23, 2013

2. Results of the April 23rd Meeting in Charlotte • 16 attendees from 13 companies. • 23 topical areas identified, discussed and ranked • Top 5 Topics: • Improved inspection methods and acceptance of concrete pours • Advanced and Automated welding and brazing • Accelerating curing of concrete • Alternate methods for measuring the curing of concrete • Standardized Info System – integrating the entire lifecycle

3. Improved inspection methods and acceptance of concrete pours • Rebar placement • Slump and air tests • Dimensional checks of piece/parts • Process controls • Quality controls • Automation / modeling • Real time inspection and validation of rebar placement • Lidar • Modeling?

4. Advanced and Automated welding and brazing • High speed (80ipm) • Hybrid welding (laser and other) • Code acceptance • Reduce labor costs • SMR issues (space and clean environment) • Robotics • Apply advanced methods

5. Accelerating curing of concrete • Reduce the time to full strength from 28 days to 7 days or 14 days either through a admixture or adjusting the mix design • Alternate methods for measuring the curing of concrete • Transfer technology from medical industry for thermocouples • Fiberoptics – measure temperature gradient

6. Testing / Inspection (design standards for loads and instrument shipping package) • At point of fabrication for modules • Shipping / rigging considerations • Component vs. system • Handoffs • Cleanliness practices / system flushes • Real time inspection of welding – auto correction of variable • Reduce / eliminate inspection (challenge code)

7. Lifting and Rigging (smaller, lighter loads with difficult access) • Exo-skeletons to avoid chain falls • OHSA • Building in lift and rig points • Use of small portable / flexible cranes • Remote detachment of rigging • Safety of load path (personnel)

8. Use of armored cable to reduce or eliminate conduit • Code? • Appendix R • Used in Navy

9. Develop technologies to reduce heat of concrete hydration • Minimize temperature rise • Capability to pour greater masses of safety related concrete

10. Cable Splicing (for modular construction) • Reliability issue • Code Issue? • Technology • Testing needed to demonstrate LTO aspects • Technology to eliminate need for splice enclosure

11. June 14, 2013 CS&QWG Phone Call Discussed three previously identified topical areas • Feasibility study of real time inspection and validation of rebar • Accelerated Curing of Concrete • Reduced heat of hydration for mass concrete • The Real Time Inspection of Rebar project should include the inspection of rebar placement during stick-built construction, the validation of correct placement of rebar modules and the validation of the correct placement of SC modules • The Accelerated Curing of Concrete project was discussed and steam curing, add mixtures and temperature logging were discussed as methods that are currently being used to accelerate the curing of concrete  • The Reduced Heat of Hydration for Mass Concrete - this discussion was that nuclear application of thick concrete was different than other industries and that temperature monitoring was an impediment to construction activities.  However, It was discussed that better monitoring capabilities might give more complete data and allow a better modeling of the typical nuclear placements so that the thermal control plans were more accurate and less conservative.  This would also feed into the accelerated curing project by identifying the real strength of the concrete, so that equipment could be placed earlier

12. Next Steps • Attempt for 2014 funding from EPRI ANT APC – August 28, 2013 • Meet in the Fall for further discussion and refinement of project list