From the January 2006 edition of Nuclear Engineering International Magazine:
Invensys verifies Fort Calhoun systems
Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) has awarded a contract to Invensys Process Systems to fully verify and tune the upgraded Foxboro digital automation system at OPPD's Fort Calhoun plant using advanced SimSci-Esscor virtual simulation technology running on FSIM Plus software. The contract also includes software and engineering services to bring the controls simulation to Fort Calhoun's existing plant simulator.
The FSIM Plus simulator will be used to exactly model the upgraded I/A Series digital control systems at Fort Calhoun. Virtual simulation technology uses the underlying digital controller source code, which is ported to a low-cost computer platform and combined with simulation functionality. As an exact representation of the plant controls, the FSIM Plus virtual simulation allows for the control algorithms to be tested in the simulator before installing the controls in the plant.
By using SimSci-Esscor software bridge capabilities, the Invensys simulation solution allows the controls configuration and graphics files from the plant to be downloaded onto Fort Calhoun's existing plant simulator as-is. It uses the same tools and operator interface as the plant, without translations, conversions or other emulation. It will also allow Fort Calhoun operators to continuously maintain their plant simulator as controls are upgraded.
The contract follows an earlier control system moderization contract with Invensys for the latest I/A Series automation technology.
OPPD is in the process of upgrading the 492MWe PWR, including new steam generators, a new reactor vessel head and a new pressurizer.
Feedwater control for Cooper...
Invensys Process Systems has announced that Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) has chosen Triconex technology for feedwater turbine controls at Cooper nuclear station in Brownville, Nebraska. To support the comprehensive control system checkout prior to commissioning, TRISIM Plus software from SimSci-Esscor will be employed to exactly model the Triconex control architecture. NPPD will also employ a new operator interface based on Wonderware InTouch human-machine interface software. The Invensys upgrades are being implemented to replace controls associated with plant trips, and for expansion of an existing control system.
The implementation will include Tricon triple-modular redundant (TMR) control systems for each of the plant's two turbine-driven main feedwater pumps. This technology will also be used for expanded feedwater control functions in the reactor vessel level control system, previously awarded to Invensys.
...and for Cook
Invensys Process Systems has been awarded a contract to supply American Electric Power with Triconex electronic control systems for the main turbines and feedwater pump turbines on both units at the Cook plant in Bridgman, Michigan.
TRISIM Plus software from SimSci-Esscor will simulate the Triconex digital controllers and will be added to Cook's existing plant simulator. Invensys will also supply Wonderware InTouch human-machine interface software and IndustrialSQL Server plant historian, as well as start-up and training services to support the Invensys products.
Invensys will supply Triconex triple-modular redundant (TMR) turbomachinery controllers. These Tricon systems will be used on each of Cook units 1 and 2's main turbine generators, as well as the feedwater pump turbines for each unit. To capture, store, retrieve and analyze all turbine operating data from the Tricon turbine control system, Invensys will supply the Trilogger high-speed, high-resolution control event recording solution.
The TMR architecture employes three isolated parallel control systems and extensive diagnostics integrated into a single Tricon system. Using two-out-of-three voting, the system provides high-integrity, error-free, uninterrupted process operation with no single point of failure. Since the Tricon redundant control function and diagnostics are embedded and transparent, each system behaves as a single control device to the engineer or operator.
The Trilogger event recorder is specially designed to match the Tricon high-frequency control scan rates, allowing high-resolution data access and analysis for all data points relating to the control of Cook's turbines. Trilogger software modules allow full online event logging, offline playback for data analysis and presentation, and remote data viewing and recording control.
To support comprehensive control system checkout prior to commissioning, TRISIM Plus software from SimSci-Esscor will be employed to model the new Triconex control architecture.
Tricon for Ukraine WERs
Invensys Nuclear has won a contract from DICS Intertrade to supply four of its Tricon safety controllers to units 1 and 2 of the Rovno nuclear power plant at Kuznetsovsk in Ukraine.
The contract covers the installation of a Tricon-based cold overpressure protection system (COPS) on each of the two 400MWe VVER reactor units at Rovno. A COPS compares pressure and temperature inputs against a preset setpoint curve and relieves the pressure when this setpoint is reached by opening power-operated relief valves (PORVs).
Both the Rovno units have two PORVs that are capable of working independently and each unit will be linked to a dedicated, electrically isolated and geographically separated Tricon controller. The four Tricons will monitor three temperature detectors in each of six coolant loops and three primary system pressure transmitters, opening redundant PORVs to prevent pressure limits from being exceeded.