FIND is a groundbreaking project that brings innovative monitoring technologies to improve nuclear safety, developing smart detection systems like structural health monitoring and digital twins for nuclear facilities.

Led by ASNR, France’s nuclear safety regulator, FIND’s technologies are designed to be cost-effective and minimally intrusive, helping power plants operate more safely while reducing maintenance costs and worker radiation exposure, in the context of their long-term operation.

The main objectives of the project are to:

• • Develop real-time remote monitoring systems for safety-critical defects in NPP metallic pipes.
  • Develop instrumentation to support the management of incidents and accidents.
  • Validate innovative NDE technologies’ performance in nuclear environments.
  • Foster new technology adoption across the nuclear sector and bridge communication between operators and technology providers to promote innovation.

• Technical & Safety Innovation: FIND will enhance nuclear safety through advanced monitoring systems for metallic components and innovative accident management instrumentation. The project will develop improved methods for detecting and preventing component failures in nuclear facilities, based on structural health monitoring approaches and digital twin technologies.
• Methodological Advancement: The project will issue a roadmap for the adoption of its technologies, identifying remaining challenges to address. Recommendations will be proposed to adapt qualification codes and standards.
• Industrial Impact: By implementing cutting-edge monitoring technologies and smart detection systems, FIND will support the industrial performance of nuclear facilities in the context of their long-term operation, while reducing maintenance costs, unplanned outages and worker radiation exposure. The project’s solutions will strengthen nuclear research and create opportunities for technology transfer to other industrial sectors.

1. Monitoring a large variety of defects affecting different plant systems:
2. Corrosion, deformation and leakage of partially buried raw feedwater pipes.
3. Stress corrosion cracking and thermal / vibrational fatigue on the primary circuit.
4. Flow-accelerated corrosion on the secondary circuit.
5. Adapting several ultrasonic technologies to the nuclear context: guided-wave tomography, acoustic emission…
6. Developing embedded signal treatment solutions for acoustic and digital twin sensors.
7. Tracking water movements during a loss-of-coolant accident thanks to heated thermocouples.
8. Measuring fission products in the reactor building during a severe accident thanks to a metallic organic framework sensor.

ASNR / FRAMATOME GMBH / SSTC NRS / VTT / IPP / CEA / EDF / LGI / KTU / VUEZ AS / TRACTEBEL

October 2024 – September 2028

4 years, EC contribution: € 4,9 million

Technical Project Leader:

Bastien Poubeau (ASNR)

Email: bastien.poubeau@asnr.fr

This project has received funding from the EURATOM research and Innovation programme 2021-2025 under Grant Agreement No 101059543.