Nuclear reaction

Frazer-Nash Consultancy has announced its continuing involvement in supporting the build of a new type of nuclear reactor in South Africa.

Frazer-Nash Consultancy

, a Surrey-headquartered systems and engineering technology provider, has announced its continuing involvement in supporting the build of a new type of nuclear reactor in South Africa.

The Pebble Bed Modular Reactor, being developed by Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PMBR), is a high-temperature reactor (HTR) designed to use fissile fuel in the form of self-contained, sealed spheres.

PBMR is currently scheduled to start construction of the Demonstration Power Plant (DPP) at Koeberg, near Cape Town, in 2010. PBMR has employed Frazer-Nash for its experience of existing reactors and safety cases to support plans for the reactor to be connected to the grid and generating electricity by 2015.

Since 2008, a Frazer-Nash employee has worked with PBMR’s Core Structures team in Centurion, near Pretoria, on the design and analysis of the core neutron reflector.

Since then, the scope of Frazer-Nash’s involvement has grown to encompass the steel Reactor Pressure Vessel, structural integrity validation work, flow-induced vibration studies and the monitoring of decommissioning costs.