As part of the efforts to facilitate the further use of fusion technologies in new non-fusion applications, Fusion for Energy (F4E) with the support of In Extenso Innovation Croissance (IEIC) launched in June 2022 an Open Call for Fusion Technology Transfer Demonstrator proposals. For the winner, a 35 000 € funding opportunity to support a demonstrator project where a fusion technology is planned to be used in a non-fusion environment.
Last March, a jury composed of members of F4E, the European Commission, EUROfusion and IEIC evaluated high-quality proposals from industries located in France, Poland, Spain, and Italy with promising new use of fusion related skills and technologies. After the deliberation, the jury decided to select the French SME DAES (Development of Advanced Engineering Solutions) for its ambition to leverage on a software developed for ITER to open new business perspectives in conventional fission nuclear power plants and possibly at a second stage renewables. The collaboration with F4E Analysis and Codes Group was key for the creation of this new business model.
Initially used for the automatization of post processing of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulations according to RCC-MR (the applicable mechanical design standard for ITER components), the extension of this App is aiming at addressing the Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) worldwide market, which is mostly designed according to the US Mechanical design Standard “ASME-III”. This expansion to be compliant with ASME standard (so- called “ASME_III-Fem”) in the proposed demonstrator project impressed the jury by its technical feasibility, its short time to market, its very short return on investment for potential customers and its impact opening the market to new customers, both in the United States and in Europe.
Leveraging on all the experience acquired through its work with F4E Analysis and Codes Technical experts Elena Fernandez, Miguel Gonzalez and Didier Combescure, the future product to be developed by DAES will allow automated checks and comprehensive design verifications on any component and will contribute to reduce the time while increasing the safety of the analyses. Outputs of the project will be presented during the 5th edition World Nuclear Exhibition next November in Paris.
