Overview
L3Harris Technologies has 48,000 employees of which 2,300+ are located in Canada. The Montreal, Quebec division (“L3Harris”) has been developing nuclear power plant simulators for operator training since 1973. Our first project in this field—Canada’s Pickering A CANDU nuclear power plant simulator—was a first-of-a-kind project and involved many challenges and technological firsts. The first Canadian project served as a launch platform for our global success in the power plant simulation business. We have supplied our state-of-the-art full scope operator training simulators, classroom simulators, part-task trainers, engineering simulators, simulator Digital Control System (DCS) implementations, simulator upgrades and advanced classroom learning technologies to numerous satisfied customers over the past nearly five decades.
The know-how gained in plant process simulation led to ongoing, cutting-edge work in Extended Reality, in which we are designing a full-scale, photo-realistic, interactive 3D visualization of an international nuclear plant facility.
We have built high-realism power plant simulators for plants of various designs―CANDU, light water reactors, gas-cooled reactors―that are installed on five continents. During this period, we have created extensive well-paid jobs for Canadian engineers, technicians, administrative staff and domestic and foreign subcontractors. In 2016, the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI) recognized L3Harris for demonstrating Canadian technology leadership in export markets.
L3Harris has been a technology leader in developing computer simulation solutions to support the initial and recurring training and licensing of nuclear operations personnel for over 45 years. As the commercial computing industry has changed dramatically over this period, L3Harris has embraced new technologies and methods to continually improve our products offerings worldwide. Our experience will reduce risk, improve safety and ensure reliable operation of the new SMR designs. Additionally, L3Harris is well known and respected in international nuclear markets and will provide additional confidence in supporting SMR engineering with its advanced simulation technologies (“Simulation Assisted Engineering”) and confidence in fulfilling SMR personnel training needs.
There are many standards, practices and regulations that govern the supply and use of simulators for nuclear training. L3Harris has participated in the development of and is currently engaged in the development of these guiding documents. It is important for SMR developers and operators to understand that fidelity, quality and functionality will be assured to meet or exceed the high standards expected and required in the nuclear industry.
L3Harris clearly sees the strategic and critical role of SMRs in satisfying the world’s clean energy needs and the simulation of SMRs are a natural extension to our current capability. To that end, we have been investing resources to ensure our technology can be applied to these new designs. We have invested in SMR plant models development for nearly two years. Over the last year, L3Harris has systematically engaged with a number of SMR developers who are active in Canada and other markets to ensure they clearly understand how we can assist and add value to their offering. At the same time, we are engaging with nuclear utilities in Canada to ensure they are kept abreast of our capabilities and current engagements with SMR developers. L3Harris will continue to invest in these activities and is prepared to accelerate our investments as the SMR landscape develops.
L3Harris is firmly committed to advancing SMR development in Canada and international markets as a contributing member to Team Canada. Regardless of the type of SMR, all will require assistance in design, validation, human factors and training of their operational and maintenance staffs. We have demonstrated Canadian and rest-of-world leadership in the field of and we are ready to do it again as Canada pursues a leadership role in the deployment of SMRs. L3Harris fully endorses the SMR Action Plan Statement of Principles.
Our target for success is to be the go-to simulation supplier for SMR Simulation Assisted Engineering and adjacent technologies and services in Canada and worldwide.
ACTIONS
DEMONSTRATION & DEPLOYMENT
Supply Chain Transition Strategy
STATUS: IN PROGRESS
LH01
Responds to SMR Roadmap recommendation(s): 37
ACTION
L3Harris has prepared a market study identifying numerous potential SMR developers in varying stages of design around the world. The study also identifies the potential SMR developers to the Canadian market.
Participated in webinars organized by OCNI and others to become familiar with each of the designs and the management of these companies.
Directly target a number of SMR developers and establish direct communication.
Utilize the Orchid® software toolset to assist SMR designers and developers to validate, test and integrate resulting in design cost savings through error reduction and reduced deployment times.
EXPECTED RESULTS
An early result of our work is that L3Harris has entered into an agreement with Terrestrial Energy to simulate the Generation IV Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR). See news release.
DEMONSTRATION & DEPLOYMENT
Initiatives to Reduce SMR Capital Costs
STATUS: IN PROGRESS
LH02
Responds to SMR Roadmap recommendation(s): 38
ACTION
Utilize engineering simulation design tools from L3Harris to uncover design issues early in the project thus dramatically reduce capital costs.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The SMR developers and their customers will realize and understand the capital cost savings in four areas:
- Identifying design issues early on in the process, long before construction starts, potentially saving millions of dollars in cost overruns.
- Building the simulator as the SMR basic and detailed design progresses will effectively eliminate the separate activity of simulator development after construction is completed, saving time and money in future simulator procurements.
- The nth-of-a-kind SMR project will not need the same level of effort to validate design and the simulators for customers will require minimal modification.
- Utilities/operators can begin the licensing process earlier in the project cycle thus generating revenue from electricity, process heat and hydrogen production as soon as possible.
L3Harris has described and will continue to describe these capital cost reduction benefits to the potential SMR developers and end-users. While different SMR developers are in different stages of design, the benefits are clearly understood. We have already secured our first SMR Simulation Assisted Engineering contract. We are confident that numerous SMR developers will take advantage of the benefits that we bring to the table.
CAPACITY, ENGAGEMENT AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE
Promoting Diversity in the Future SMR Workforce
STATUS: IN PROGRESS
LH03
Responds to SMR Roadmap recommendation(s): 39
ACTION
L3Harris recognizes that the current generation nuclear facilities have been progressively working on addressing their aging workforce by bringing up to speed younger and more diverse personnel. It is imperative that our technology is appealing to a younger generation regardless of gender or race whether they participate in the simulator design, the SMR construction or the operation of the SMR facilities. L3Harris has added modern, visual learning technologies to improve the education, comprehension and retention of technical information that will attract a younger generation.
Moreover, L3Harris has clear corporation-wide policies on affirmative action and equal employment, and a number of diversity and inclusion initiatives.
L3Harris has directly demonstrated these new learning technologies to SMR developers of which we have ongoing discussions. SMR developers that we have engaged realize that the current training practices and methods are due for modernization. L3Harris is distinct in the marketplace in the development of these modern classroom technologies.
EXPECTED RESULTS
SMR developers and their customers will embrace our technology-enabled learning solutions that are different and unique for the emerging new SMR builds and the increasingly diverse composition of personnel in the industry.
A diverse workforce at L3Harris that reflects the demographics of our customers and the world we live in.
DEMONSTRATION AND DEPLOYMENT
Strategic Partnerships and Business Models
STATUS: IN PROGRESS
LH04
Responds to SMR Roadmap recommendation(s): 46
ACTION
L3Harris has invested in the most advanced technology in the nuclear plant simulators domain and is experienced with developing partnerships. We are pursuing working in partnership with SMR developers and other technology and/or service providers. There are a number of partnering approaches which can be considered that will benefit from the technology and experience offered by L3Harris.
These approaches have been discussed with select SMR developers.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Innovative partnering with SMR developers and other partners to advance SMR deployment in Canada, then globally.
DEMONSTRATION AND DEPLOYMENT
Fleet Deployment Pathways
STATUS: IN PROGRESS
LH05
Responds to SMR Roadmap recommendation(s): 47
ACTION
It makes sense to support each SMR fleet of installations in a systematic manner. This should apply for many organizations in the SMR supply chain, including the simulators provider. Each installation should not require the customer to develop large simulator maintenance teams to service the duplicate SMR simulators independently. Our action is to standardize the process of modifications to the SMR simulators even more than we currently do for the Generation II and Generation III/III+ simulators, thereby reducing the operators’ cost of ownership.
Strategy being refined and in specific cases being socialized with SMR developers.
EXPECTED RESULTS
For each SMR design, future modifications should be limited and supported on an installed fleet wide basis. The simulator and related offerings should mirror the overall fleet wide strategy resulting in reduced cost of ownership and long-term maintenance.