ACR-1000® Constructability and Modularization

Abstract

Many industries are using skids, modules and prefabrications to enhance construction productivity, reduce schedules and thus reduce costs. The leaders in this regard are offshore oil and gas, chemical and refinery, ship building, etc. Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL®) has had considerable success at the Qinshan Nuclear Power project in China with the use of modularization, which proved extremely effective in paralleling of activities and shortening the schedule. Extensive use has been made of skids and modules in Japan and this also has proven effective in shortening schedules in the construction of nuclear power plants. Secondary benefits of modularization and prefabrication include decreased site congestion and logistical issues, increased worker safety, and better quality control of fabrication. Modules and prefabrication allow work to be shifted to areas where skilled trades are more readily available from a site where skilled trades are very limited. One of the objectives for the ACR-1000® (Advanced CANDU Reactor®) project is to produce a design to allow for a very secure construction schedule. The construction method and strategy, consisting of extensive use of prefabrication and modularization, has been defined very early in the ACR-1000 conceptual phase of the layout and design process. This is addressed through a constructability programme that integrates the civil design with site erection and module installation. This paper presents the ACR-1000 construction strategy and methods and show examples of how the integrated civil design approach with modularization and prefabrication are utilized to shorten the construction schedule and reduce the project risk.