Thermal Excellence in the Service of the Most Critical Processes
In the nuclear, naval and defence sectors, the quality of a weld is not a performance criterion — it is a safety condition. A thermal anomaly can jeopardise a strategic programme or compromise the safety of an entire installation. These sectors impose some of the most demanding specifications in the world: continuous heating over several months, traceability spanning 100 years, requirements that leave no room for error.
THERMAL CHALLENGES IN DEFENCE, NUCLEAR AND NAVAL INDUSTRIES
Process Safety
Among the most stringent specifications in the world. The manufacturing cycle of a nuclear reactor vessel lasts 4 to 6 years: a thermal failure has no recovery solution.
Absolute Continuity
In certain nuclear, naval and defence applications, thermal continuity is an absolute requirement. Even a momentary failure can render a component non-compliant, result in the loss of a part worth several million euros, and jeopardise an entire programme.
Personnel Safety
On a component 5 metres in diameter, installing contact resistance heaters can require several weeks of work at height. These operations expose teams to significant risks from working at height, handling and concurrent activities. Self-supporting infrared eliminates these constraints.
100-Year Traceability
In the nuclear sector, traceability requirements are measured on a century-long scale. From the commissioning of an installation to its decommissioning, every manufacturing operation must be documentable and justifiable.
Sopara’s Response
Thermal Solutions Engineered for the Most Demanding Industrial Requirements
Applications
From reactor vessel preheating to network piping: Sopara intervenes in the most demanding thermal processes in the nuclear, naval and defence sectors.
Case Studies
Case Study 1
Nuclear Industry
The Challenge
Heating parts 5 m in diameter, 50 to 120 tonnes, continuously for several months without interruption. The previous contact-based systems required several weeks of installation work at height, with direct risks on parts worth several million euros.
The Solution Implemented
Full FMEA analysis and finite element thermal simulation prior to installation. Self-supporting circular structure in inverted dome configuration. 800 infrared emitters distributed across 120 independent zones, individual wiring per emitter. Over-protection against conductive metal dust. A single system heats up to 3 different part geometries.
The Impact
Less than one day
Set-up vs. several weeks of site work
120 independent zones
Guaranteed continuity of service
300°C ± 10°C
Precision achieved vs. client target of ± 30°C
Divided by 4 to 5
Energy consumption vs. flame burners
Case Study 2
Naval Industry
The Challenge
Heating the ends of large rotating cylindrical components for welding. Existing gas burners provided insufficient homogeneity and relied on manual regulation, the primary source of defects in this type of process.
The Solution Implemented
Gas infrared emitters mounted on telescopic poles, enabling adjustment of the emitter-to-part distance according to diameter. Self-supporting structure requiring no fixings on the component. Automatic multi-zone regulation replacing manual adjustment. Thermal camera monitoring.
The Impact
Zero manual adjustment
Automatic multi-zone regulation
Homogeneity
Continuous monitoring via thermal camera
Multi-reference
One system for diameters from 7.5 to 15 m
Energy cost divided by 4
Gas IR consumption vs. flame burners
Credentials & Industrial Deployment
Present Where Requirements Are Most Demanding
The trust of major prime contractors is built project by project. Sopara has demonstrated its ability to meet the most demanding specifications, with a level of expertise recognised in the nuclear, naval and defence sectors. ISO 9001 certified.
FMEA Expertise
Acquired in the nuclear sector, FMEA is a rare competency among industrial thermal specialists. Sopara masters it and deploys it on projects that require it: 4 to 5 months of engineering studies, weekly meetings, and complete documentation delivered to the client.
100-Year Data Logging
Between the commissioning of a power plant and its decommissioning, a century may pass. Every heating parameter is recorded on a system independent of the PLC, accessible at any time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditional technologies (contact resistance heaters, flame burners) required several weeks of site work, working at height, and offered no redundancy in the event of failure. Sopara’s self-supporting infrared systems are set up in less than one day, without contact, with up to 120 independent zones guaranteeing cycle continuity regardless of circumstances, and energy consumption divided by 4 to 5 compared with flame burners.
Through a redundant architecture: individual wiring per emitter, isolation of the single failed emitter from the control cabinet without any intervention on the part, automatic switchover to redundant measurement. With 800 emitters, the failure of a single one does not interrupt the cycle.
Yes. Sopara acquired this expertise in the nuclear sector and deploys it on projects that require it. For every system component, we identify what can fail, under what conditions, and with what consequences for the process. A methodology that is rare among industrial thermal specialists.
Finite element thermal simulation validates emitter placement before any installation. In production, Sopara has achieved 300°C ± 10°C on cycles where the client target was ± 30°C.
Yes. Sopara has developed modern mobile cabinets to power ageing existing resistance heaters, adding the complete missing layer of regulation, safety and data logging, without replacing the entire installation.
Temperatures and power levels are recorded continuously on a logger independent of the PLC. Every modification is referenced with its date and reason. Between the commissioning of a nuclear power plant and its decommissioning, a century may pass: our traceability system is designed accordingly.
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