La minute experte - Nuclear: the relaunch? The trends? Go, Pyrocontrole !
Pyrocontrole, part of the Chauvin Arnoux Group, is a company specialized in the design of sensors and temperature control solutions which benefits from solid expertise in industries involving harsh environments. Today, "Expert Focus" interviews Jean-Jacques Grosson, Nuclear Market manager at Pyrocontrole, concerning the current and future developments in this sector.
Nuclear: the relaunch? The trends? Go, Pyrocontrole !
- Jean-Jacques, how did you end up in the Nuclear sector?
After specialized studies in quality/safety and the environment, I first came across the nuclear sector in 2015 when I was taken on to handle quality monitoring, inspection and scheduling at Pyrocontrole. I very quickly found myself having to monitor the execution of the contracts and the communication with customers about quality issues.
My position upstream of the contracts soon gave me an idea of the growing requirements in terms of system quality, leading me to apply for the job of QHSE (Quality, Health, Safety, Environment) Supervisor, as it also played into my determination to evolve towards managerial and decision-making responsibilities.
- What is Pyrocontrole’s latest news in the Nuclear sector?
At Pyrocontrole, we have been proving our expertise in the nuclear sector since the 1970s, supporting our customers through all the changes demanded for this market. In 2023, we will be continuing our long-term contracts with the power plants (Hualong-1, ex-Fangchenggang) developed by China General Nuclear Power in China, as well as the HPC Hinkley Point project in the UK.
We are also working for EDF to supply probes for the Grand Refit (renovation of France’s nuclear power plants with the aim of prolonging their life span).
In 2023, with the energy crisis and ecological issues, nuclear power has once again become a crucial worldwide resource for short, medium and long-term decarbonization.
- What is the advantage of Framatome certification?
The certification granted by EDF or Framatome is strategic, as it helps to confirm for prime contractors that Pyrocontrole is capable of meeting the organizational and quality requirements.
For Pyrocontrole, it is important to be acknowledged as a reliable actor on the temperature measurement market for nuclear activities.
- What is ISO 19443: Nuclear Quality?
ISO 19443 certification covers suppliers or subcontractors whose products or services have an impact on the safety of the electricity or fuel production installations. It is based on ISO 9001 and integrates the specific requirements of the nuclear sector.
- What does the future hold for the nuclear sector?
In my opinion, in the future the nuclear sector will be focused mainly on SMRs (Small Modular Reactors). These will be very small power plants which can be manufactured in factories in the form of industrialized modules installed directly on site. These modules will be simple, economical and very safe. What more could we ask for? The applications are so varied they are almost infinite, ranging from urban heating to desalination of seawater or even hydrogen production….
