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RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, PATENTS AND LICENSES
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11.2 Intellectual property
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increased performance of non-destructive examinations and in-situ work;
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optimization of the design, manufacturing and assembly of replacement
components;
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products providing customers with better measurement performance and
operational savings, as well as enhanced worker safety.
Supporting these different objectives, AREVA NP is especially involved in efforts
to understand and anticipate aging phenomena, in cooperation with the CEA and
EDF, with the objective of gaining a better understanding and control of the aging of
equipment andmaterials in the reactor environment (presence of radiation, pressure,
temperature and mechanical loads). This in turn reinforces the ability to predict and
anticipate materials capabilities and to offer suitable solutions for extending the
operating period of reactors and reactor components in response to the needs of
power generation companies.
AREVANP is also heavily involved in efforts to understand and analyze safety issues
(risk prevention, management and mitigation) through its own programs and in
collaboration with the IRSN, the CEA and EDF, for example through R&D programs
on severe accidents carried out under the aegis of the National Research Agency
(ANR) or in a European framework (H2020).
Improving industrial processes and adapting them
to changing regulations
The R&D teams of the Saint-Marcel, Jeumont and le Creusot plant sites have
concentrated on improving manufacturing processes, aiming for their quality,
reproducibility and economic performance. Advances have beenmade in particular
in the pinning of the tube support plate of steam generators, in welding methods
and in the inspection of vessels and steam generators.
All of the experts and Metallurgy Technical Centers of AREVA NP have also been
fully mobilized to provide the necessary support to the operator EDF to establish
the compatibility of forged components supplied by the Creusot forge and other
manufacturers with the conditions for their use, applying the new ESPN regulations.
This gave the French nuclear safety authority ASN the technical information it
needed to authorize, in late 2016, the restart of most of the shutdown reactors.
A roadmap to optimize forged component production with regard to these new
regulations was also drawn up and is being rolled out in the manufacturing plants
of AREVA NP and Industeel, in terms of both the necessary R&D studies and tests
and the corresponding investment.
R&D ACTIVITIES OF AREVA TA IN PROPULSION AND RESEARCH
REACTORS
Small Modular Reactor (SMR)
AREVA TA continued work on the pre-conceptual design of a small-capacity
power reactor. This modular, integrated reactor is in the 100-150 MWe range. The
ongoing design combines solutions used for high-capacity PWRs and innovative
design bases in terms of technologies, industrial optimization, construction and
operating flexibility. This concept was the basis of the proposal presented by
EDF Energy, teamed with AREVA TA, AREVA NP and other French and English
partners, in response to the invitation to tender for SMRs issued in 2016 by the
British government.
Research reactor
AREVA TA continued to set up its technical standards (nuclear safety standards,
development or adaptation of design codes and drawings for research reactors,
with the CEA’s support) as backup to its proposals for international research reactors
to countries wishing to invest in R&D or nuclear education, and for the production
of medical isotopes.
11.2.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Intellectual property rights, in particular patents, trademarks, domain names and
know-how, play an important role in the group’s daily operations and thus in the
production and protection of the AREVA group’s products, services and technology.
Protecting the group’s knowledge and unique know-how requires a comprehensive
system for developing and managing AREVA’s technology assets. This is also
the key success factor during negotiations of R&D and industrial partnerships,
technology transfer agreements, and process license agreements, now standard
practice for large-scale international projects.
11.2.1.
PATENTS AND KNOW-HOW
Several years ago, AREVA set the goal of building a portfolio of patent rights
consistent with its strategies and right-sized in terms of both quality and quantity,
in keeping with the group’s research and development efforts.
Today, the group has a portfolio of some 5,600 patents derived from more than
1,200 inventions pertaining to the nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear reactors and related
services. In 2016, the group filed 51 priority patent applications from operations
held for sale (14 in the NewCo consolidation scope and 37 in the New NP scope).
In addition to the patent portfolios, AREVA has elected tomaintain the confidentiality
of some of its technology innovations. Accordingly, the group owns and uses
valuable know-how recognized for its technical excellence that contributes to
AREVA’s leadership in its businesses and bolsters the group’s technical and
commercial offering.
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2016 AREVA
REFERENCE DOCUMENT