Beyond the main power generation components, a nuclear power plant requires a host of specialized equipment. The nuclear equipment market includes reactor internals (core barrel, fuel assemblies), fuel handling equipment (refueling machines), and waste management systems (solidification, storage). The nuclear equipment market for "fuel" fabrication is a separate but related industry. The nuclear equipment market for "spent fuel" reprocessing (recovering plutonium and uranium) is not widely practiced (only in France, Russia, Japan).

The broader nuclear power plant equipment market includes these items. The nuclear equipment market for "reactor internals" are components inside the RPV that support the fuel and guide control rods. The nuclear equipment market for "core barrel" and "upper internals" are made of stainless steel. The nuclear equipment market for "fuel assemblies" consist of fuel rods (containing uranium dioxide pellets) and structural grids. The nuclear equipment market for "fuel" handling includes the refueling machine (a bridge crane that moves fuel in and out of the core under water).

The nuclear equipment market for "control rod" drive mechanisms (CRDM) move the control rods in and out of the core. The nuclear equipment market for "CRDM" can be magnetic jack (PWR) or hydraulic (BWR). The nuclear equipment market for "in-core" instrumentation (neutron detectors) monitors the power distribution. The nuclear equipment market for "process" instrumentation (pressure, temperature, flow) is also extensive.

The nuclear equipment market for "waste" management includes systems for solidifying radioactive waste (cement or bitumen in drums) and storage. The nuclear equipment market for "dry" cask storage (for spent fuel) is a large market. The nuclear equipment market for "transport" casks for moving spent fuel and high-level waste is also specialized. The nuclear equipment market for "decontamination" equipment is used in maintenance.

The nuclear equipment market for "radiation" monitoring (fixed and portable) is essential for worker safety. The nuclear equipment market for "personal" dosimeters (badges) tracks cumulative exposure.

Looking ahead, the nuclear equipment market will see the development of "advanced" fuel (e.g., accident-tolerant fuel, ATF) with higher performance and safety margins. The nuclear equipment market for "SMRs" will require new, smaller-scale fuel handling and waste systems. The nuclear equipment market for "nuclear" hydrogen production (using high-temperature electrolysis) is a future possibility.

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