As nuclear plants extend operation and pursue modernization, safety I&C upgrades increasingly require decisions between maintaining or enhancing existing analog (hardwired) systems and adopting qualified digital platforms. Each approach offers distinct technical, operational, and project execution considerations, and utilities must evaluate trade-offs that affect lifecycle support, room and cabinet utilization, wiring complexity, licensing effort, and long-term sustainability.

This webinar provides a clear, practical comparison of analog and digital safety I&C upgrade paths. The session will outline where hardwired architectures remain effective and straightforward to maintain, and where they introduce limitations such as dense copper cabling, footprint constraints, obsolescence risks, and increasing maintenance overhead. In parallel, we will examine modern digital options—with proven global operating experience—that streamline wiring through fiber-based architectures, reduce space requirements, simplify safety logic implementation, and support long-term evolution using standardized platforms and unified engineering environments.

Participants will gain a balanced understanding of:

• When analog solutions provide the simplest and lowest-impact upgrade approach
• Where digital modernization offers measurable efficiency, scalability, or lifecycle benefits
• How to evaluate project risk, licensing considerations, and long-term supportability
• How both approaches can be applied effectively depending on plant strategy and system needs

By presenting the strengths and challenges of both analog and digital solutions, this webinar equips utilities, engineers, and project stakeholders with clear decision-making insight for near term upgrades and long-term modernization planning.

Speakers

Ryan Reynolds
I&C Manager of Product Development & Lifecycle Maintenance, Framatome, Inc.
Ryan is a nuclear Instrumentation & Control engineering leader with over 17 years of experience delivering modernization solutions for both safety‑related and non‑safety I&C systems. He has led multidisciplinary engineering teams in developing and qualifying new digital and analog products, including advanced rod control power electronics. Ryan’s background includes project engineering for major modernization initiatives, equipment qualification, commercial grade dedication, reverse engineering of safety‑class components, and lifecycle management of critical nuclear I&C systems. He currently manages product development and modernization activities at Framatome, helping utilities address obsolescence challenges and transition to reliable, future‑ready I&C architectures.

Erica Hindle
I&C Safety System Software Engineer, Framatome, Inc.
Erica began working at Framatome in 2023 following her completion of a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree in Chemical Engineering at University of Connecticut. Her work at Framatome has been focused on the TXS Compact and Hardline systems for I&C safety applications. In 2025, she received Framatome’s I&C Early Career Impact Award for her work with TXS Compact.