Modularity: Lessons from chemical process engineering

Decouple

#Dr. Chris Keefer #Science #Mark Nelson

32:12

DaQuane Cherry was once the kid who wore a hoodie to hide skin flare-ups in school. Now he’s an artist and advocate helping others feel seen. He reflects on his psoriasis journey, the power of small joys, and why loving yourself first isn’t a cliché—it’s essential. Plus, a deep dive into the history of La Roche-Posay’s legendary spring. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

about a year ago 49:53

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How should we think about modularity in the nuclear space? Jesse Hubesch joins me to disentangle the much hyped concept of modularity from his perspective as a chemical process engineer.

287 episodes

Decouple

Modularity: Lessons from chemical process engineering

Decouple

116 subscribers

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

How should we think about modularity in the nuclear space? Jesse Hubesch joins me to disentangle the much hyped concept of modularity from his perspective as a chemical process engineer.

287 episodes

#Dr. Chris Keefer #Science #Mark Nelson

All episodes

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Small Reactor, Big Price 1:40:15

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We have an unusual episode today. One, because of its length (1 hour 40 minutes), and two, because I’m the guest. Joined by Aidan Morrison as acting host, I talk about a topic of intense interest to me: the Darlington SMR project in Ontario, Canada . I’ve been critical of this SMR project, which recently received its final investment decision, by calling for a pivot to CANDU reactors at the site. I use this episode to break down all my reasons for being critical, and to concede ground to this bold SMR project where earned. This is not the first place I’ve shared my reasoning (media interview here , LinkedIn post there ), but it is the most in-depth. If you have time to listen to the full thing, I promise you will leave quite knowledgeable about the ambitious and capable Ontario nuclear sector, which I’ve studied and engaged with for years. Prompting this episode was the OPG’s final investment decision on the SMR and the revelation of its eye-watering cost estimates. I break down the $4.5 billion price tag for the first unit, the expected learning that will take place, and share why this represents not just a technical and economic challenge, but a strategic mistake that could undermine Canada’s competitive advantage in nuclear power. From the massive excavation challenges of burying a reactor ten stories underground to the national security risks of abandoning proven CANDU technology for American designs, I hope to share some of the hard truths behind the SMR hype. Read extended shownotes on Substack . Watch now on YouTube .…

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Is Wright's Law Wrong? 1:04:24

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This week, we return to nuclear power. Specifically, nuclear construction and “learning curves.” It is intuitive that doing something over and over makes you better at it. In industry, this means driving down costs and timelines and boosting efficiencies. In many industries, the truth of learning curves is readily apparent. However, in Western nuclear construction it has been largely absent for decades. Robbie Stewart, CTO of Alva Energy , joins me to dissect why the nuclear industry struggles with what other industries take for granted, and highlight a few cases in nuclear that managed to buck this trend. From France's standardized reactor fleet to China's recent AP1000 acceleration, we explore the prerequisites for nuclear construction learning and why it takes more than just good engineering. We discuss: Wright's Law and its application (or misapplication) to nuclear construction Why nuclear is fundamentally different from factory-floor manufacturing The three categories of nuclear learning: fixing mismanagement, technology insertion, and construction optimization Statistical analysis of what drives successful learning rates in nuclear programs France's P4 series and South Korea's OPR-1000 as learning success stories China's dramatic improvements in AP1000 construction times through supply chain mastery The critical role of integrated project management and utility ownership Prerequisites for learning: standardized design, sequential builds, and institutional commitment Why inter-site learning is harder than intra-site learning The developer model as a potential solution for geographic learning constraints Ontario's SMR program as a test case for modern nuclear learning Read extended shownotes on Substack…

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Is America Making Itself Irrelevant? 1:06:39

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Trump's Nuclear Executive Orders 57:11

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The Iberian Blackout 51:27

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