The knowledge management on the design of a generation IV sodium fast reactor project at CEA. The case and methodology applied on the Astrid project

Abstract

From 2010 to 2019, the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Commission (CEA) associated with industrial partners realized the Basic Design of a prototype Sodium Fast Reactor. This project was called ASTRID (ASTRID for Advanced Sodium Technological Reactor for Industrial Demonstration). ASTRID design studies were financed through governmental funds until the end of the basic design. These funds covered also the design studies for the core manufacturing workshop, the refurbishment or construction of large test loops. One year before the term of this Basic Design phase (in 2018), industrial partners, CEA and the French State conducted a review of fast neutrons reactors and fuel cycle strategy. The review which is now translated into the Multiannual Energy Program concluded that the perspective of industrial deployment of Fast Reactors is more distant. Yet it has been concluded to keep this option open, requiring to maintain competences, and to progress on technological barriers and further develop know-how. The strategy for complete closure of nuclear fuel cycle is maintained as a long-term sustainability objective (in the second half of the 21st century). Therefore, as a direct consequence of this decision, the ASTRID project stopped at the end of 2019 at its Basic Design phase. Quickly the question raised on the Knowledge Management (KM) and Know-How capitalization of the huge amount of studies and results realized during ten years (around 23 000 technical documents). Moreover the challenge was to realize this KM process in less than one year, before the ASTRID project team definitive split. The paper is presenting an innovative KM methodology which has been created and specifically performed on the ASTRID project. It is based on a series of interviews and video recordings, all transformed into some New KM tools called “MOOK” (MOOK for Management of Organized Online Knowledge). All these MOOKs considered as “data rich contents” are then inter-connected and linked by the ASTRID Product Breakdown Structure to some fundamental documents, for a comprehensive and quick mapping of the project. They finally form an efficient KM tool recorded in a PLM Software (PLM for Product Lifecycle Management). Thus the ASTRID project team has realized a high level and easy-to-use “GPS” (Global Positioning System) tool to keep the ASTRID history, context, knowledge and know-how for years. This KM methodology can be easily adapted to other nuclear projects and needs.