Almost thousand experts assist at the world’s biggest nuclear conference
The 20th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE20) and the national ASME 2012 Power Conference have been arranged in a collocated conference in California. At ICONE USA, Japan, Europe and China meet on a regular basis to discuss current issues regarding the nuclear industry and to push the knowledge further. ÅF was again a co-organizer and a lecturer.
On the picture: Lennart Jansson, Thomas Nilson and Lingfu Zeng together with ICONE20’s Technical Chairman, Dr Asif Arastu (Bechtel Power, USA).
The ÅF colleagues Thomas Nilsson, Lennart Jansson and Lingfu Zeng, ÅF Gothenburg, Sweden, participated together with almost thousand other experts within the fields of Power Engineering and Nuclear Engineering. At this conference a wide range of topics within the Nuclear, Fossil and Renewable Energy were discussed through 23 technical tracks, 159 seminars and 800 lectures. The following issues are just examples of topics: Plant Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Modifications, Life Cycle and Balance of Plant, Instrumentation and Controls; Safety and Security; Codes, Standards, Licensing and Regulatory Issues; Nuclear Education; Next Generation Systems; Waste Management; and Social and Environmental Acceptance.
For the third time, ÅF’s Lingfu Zeng was invited by ASME to join the conference’s Technical Committee as deputy chairman for the 7th technical track – Codes, Standards, Licensing and Regulatory Issues. Hence, ÅF is once again one of the official conference organizers.
Energy mix for a sustainable and bright future
ÅF contributed with two speeches during the conference. Lennart Jansson addressed ÅF’s multiyear commitments in the power up rate and lifetime extension projects for Oskarshamn Unit 3 (PULS and PLEX), for which he was project manager. His lecture focused on multidisciplinary and advanced tasks, multinational work environments, and their relevant efficiency issues. Lennart also touched a well-known technology challenge and paved a smooth way for new relevant projects regarding ageing plants in the world.
ÅF’s second speech was delivered by Lingfu Zeng. Following his earlier speeches critizising ASME’s rules for mechanical equipment for nuclear energy at ICONE 16-19, he questioned several unclear and inconsistent rules that currently are applied to the nuclear power industries. Lingfu thanked ASME for having gathered several relevant key professionals to listen to his lecture, which later led to an in-depth discussion with ÅF.
Within the conference main theme – Energy mix for sustainable and bright future – it was called for global commitments, collaborations and responsibility for the now ongoing ‘Global Nuclear Renaissence’ in the lectures by several governmental and corporate representatives. The most notable topics were naturally the now known as The Great Earthquake in Japan (March, 2011) and the Fukushima accident, whose background and social and economic consequences were discussed thoroughly. Other interesting issues were outdated limits for radiation exposure, how to reestablish trust for needed nuclear facilities again and ways to educate new generations. Emerging new technology was a big subject, both Small Modular Reactors which can supply electric base load capacity with passive safety systems, IV Generation fission reactors and the more advanced fusion nuclear technology.
In connection with the conference, both Lennart and Lingfu attended the meeting with the Technical Committee of ASME regarding Safety, Design rules and other topics. Lennart and Lingfu suggested Sweden as a candidate for ICONE22 (2014) when the conference returns to Europe. Competitors are Saint Petersburg and Prague.
Through ÅF’s regular participation at ICONE, we gain in knowledge, push technical issues in order to improve engineering standards, share nuclear project experiences , get very good international network and keep us updated on the industry’s challenges and plans. This opens the way for our growing organization’s willingness and ability to be considered for the really big commitments in the field of nuclear engineering.
For those of us who participated, we thank ÅF for the support and believe that ÅF should step up its ICONE involvement in different ways to prepare for future project challenges.
For more information, contact:
Lennart Jansson: 
+46 (0) 10 505 32 78
Lingfu Zeng: 
+46 (0)10 505 32 64