A BIM-driven framework for integrating rules and regulations in the decommissioning of nuclear power plants

Abstract

Purpose The relatively low capital cost and contributions to mitigating global warming have favoured the continuous construction and operation of nuclear power plants (NPPs) across the world. One critical phase in the operation of nuclear plants for ensuring the safety and security of radioactive products and by-products is decommissioning. With the advent of digital twinning in the building information modelling (BIM) methodology, efficiency and safety can be improved from context-focus access to regulations pertaining to demolition of structures and the cleaning-up of radioactivity inherent in nuclear stations. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to propose a BIM-driven framework to achieve a more regulation-aware and safer decommissioning of nuclear power plants. Design/methodology/approach The framework considers task requirements, and landscape and environmental factors in modelling demolition scenarios that characterise decommissioning processes. The framework integrates decommissioning rules/regulations in a BIM linked non-structured query system to model items and decommissioning tasks, which are implemented based on context-focussed retrieval of decommissioning rules and regulations. The concept’s efficacy is demonstrated using example cases of digitalised NPPs. Findings This approach contributes to enhancing improvements in nuclear plant decommissioning with potential for appropriate activity sequencing, risk reduction and ensuring safety. Originality/value A BIM-driven framework hinged on querying non-structured databases to provide context-focussed access to nuclear rules and regulations and to aiding decommissioning is new.

Relationship between digital twin and building information modeling: a systematic review and future directions

“…The component information of existing facilities could be mapped and stored using DT, which maintains a high degree of correlation and consistency on the facility components in BIM (Zhao et al , 2021). The arrival of the concept of DT in BIM can improve the safety and efficiency of decommissioning nuclear power plants (Oti et al , 2021).…”

“…Decommissioning is a critical phase in nuclear plant operation for assuring the safety and security of radioactive products and by-products. Thus, Oti et al (2021) proposed a framework for a more regulation-aware and safer decommissioning of nuclear power plants. The circular economy (CE) is an approach to optimize the recycling process of construction materials.…”

“…There are researchers that suggest future scholars expand their current research. Oti et al (2021) proposed to appropriately classify and map all traditional decommissioning tasks by dissecting the multiple rules and requirements. Furthermore, Chen et al (2021) suggested that the developed framework can be expanded into a system for estimating embodied carbon in buildings.…”