Nuclear tooling and automation systems must perform reliably in demanding operating environments. Whether supporting reactor refurbishment, maintenance activities, life extension programs, or new nuclear projects, comprehensive testing and validation are essential to reducing risk and ensuring successful execution.
ATS Nuclear Energy Solutions helps nuclear facilities validate tooling, controls, and automation systems through advanced testing, reactor mock-ups, digital twin technologies, and large-scale validation programs. Combining deep reactor knowledge with automation expertise, we identify issues early, optimize performance, and confirm system readiness before critical work begins.
Common Barriers to Effective Nuclear Testing & Validation
Verifying tooling and automation performance in nuclear applications demands a combination of technical expertise, specialized infrastructure, and proven testing methodologies.
Large-Scale Validation Environments
Many nuclear tools operate in complex reactor environments that are difficult to reproduce. Facilities often lack the infrastructure needed to simulate full-scale reactor conditions and conduct large-scale integration testing.
Multi-System Complexity
Nuclear tooling often combines multiple machines, controls, and interfaces into a single, highly coordinated solution. Verifying interactions across these interconnected systems requires extensive testing and automation expertise.
Limited Testing Capacity & Resources
Many organizations lack the space, reactor mock-ups, equipment, or skilled personnel needed to perform comprehensive validation testing.
Validating New Technologies & Upgrades
The shift toward reactor refurbishment and advanced automation is transforming nuclear operations. New tooling, controls, and automated systems must be thoroughly tested to ensure reliable performance and avoid costly rework.
Comprehensive Testing and Validation for Complex Nuclear Projects
Every nuclear project presents unique requirements. ATS develops customized testing and validation programs that address project-specific risks, operating conditions, and performance objectives.
Design Verification & Performance Testing
Turn Project Requirements into Proven Results
ATS develops comprehensive test programs that validate tooling functionality, reliability, and operational performance against project requirements. Testing can include repeatability studies, endurance testing, and performance verification. By identifying issues early, we help minimize rework, improve reliability, and keep critical projects on schedule.
Digital Twin Simulation & Validation
Explore, Test, and Optimize in a Digital Environment
ATS leverages digital twin technology to create accurate virtual reactor environments for testing and validation. These digital models enable teams to verify tooling movements, evaluate reactor access paths, identify potential collisions, and assess interactions between multiple tools and systems. By simulating full reactor conditions and operating scenarios, ATS helps uncover design constraints, optimize tooling performance, and reduce project risk early in the development process.
Integrated Automation & Controls Testing
Ensure End-to-End System Functionality
Nuclear projects often require multiple tools, machines, PLCs, HMIs, and control systems to function together seamlessly. ATS performs integration testing to verify communications, sequencing, and overall system functionality under realistic operating conditions. This helps eliminate integration issues and ensures reliable system performance.
Submerged Equipment Testing
Verify Performance in Underwater Environments
Our integrated submerged system testing and training facility at ATS features multiple pools to accommodate underwater testing of small and large nuclear equipment. This unique approach provides greater flexibility for real-time system modifications and hands-on training without impacting project schedules or budgets. This enables nuclear facilities to verify system performance in submerged environments before deployment.
Key Benefits
Comprehensive testing and validation help nuclear facilities reduce uncertainty, improve performance, and build confidence in critical systems and operations.
Testing Tailored to Unique Applications
Adapt testing strategies to unique tooling designs, reactor environments, and project objectives to support better decisions, designs, and project outcomes.
Reduced Project Risk
Proactively identify and resolve design, integration, and operational issues before they affect project timelines, budgets, or critical outage activities.
Improved Operational Reliability
Confirm systems perform consistently and reliably across a range of operating scenarios, reactor configurations, and project requirements.
Accelerated Deployment Readiness
Equip project teams with verified data and proven system performance before critical work begins.
Critical Applications for Nuclear Testing and Validation
ATS helps nuclear power plants verify tooling, automation systems, and upgrades across a wide range of applications and project stages.
New Nuclear & Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Projects
Support Future Nuclear Development
Advanced reactor and SMR programs are driving new approaches to tooling, automation, reactor access, and plant operations. ATS helps organizations move from concept to confidence through proof-of-principle testing, digital twin simulation, and system integration validation. Teams can evaluate tooling positions, access strategies, and system interactions before implementation, helping refine designs, optimize performance, and accelerate project readiness.
Reactor Refurbishment Tooling
Validate Critical Outage Equipment
When outage schedules are measured in days, there is little room for uncertainty. ATS validates tooling performance, operating sequences, reactor interfaces, and access requirements before critical refurbishment activities begin. Through simulation and testing, teams can verify equipment positioning, optimize deployment strategies, and confirm tooling functionality under realistic conditions. This helps improve execution readiness and build confidence that tooling will perform when it matters most.
Nuclear Tooling Retrofits & Upgrades
Unlock the Full Value of Investments
Modernization initiatives often introduce new automation technologies, controls, and equipment capabilities. ATS validates upgrades through proof-of-principle testing, assembly verification, and contingency scenario testing to ensure systems perform as intended. Teams can evaluate new concepts, confirm upgrade assemblies, and test alternate operating sequences designed to address unexpected reactor conditions. This helps accelerate adoption, improve reliability, and maximize return on investment.
Reduce Risk Before Critical Work Begins
Nuclear projects demand reliable tooling, coordinated systems, and flawless execution. From new automation systems and tooling upgrades to refurbishment projects, ATS provides the expertise, facilities, and testing capabilities needed to validate performance and reduce uncertainty before implementation.