A semi-annual report on L3 MAPPS Power Systems and Simulation activities Issue 44 | June 2017 Bruce Unit 6 DCC Replacement L3 MAPPS to supply Digital Control Computer supporting Life-Extension Program [page 4] IN THIS ISSUE NEW BUSINESS .......................................................... 2 CAP1400 Engineering Design Analyzer Dungeness B Simulator Upgrade Replacement DCC for Bruce Unit 6 Laguna Verde Simulator – Version 3 VIEW POINT ................................................................. 6 Not 100% Renewable, But 0% Carbon CUSTOMER PROFILE .................................................. 8 CFE’s Fabián Barrios Eufrasio NEW BUSINESS ....................................................... 10 Ling Ao Phase II Orchid® and Severe Accident Simulation Upgrading the Koeberg Simulators VIEW POINT .............................................................. 12 Future of Nuclear Power: Young People with Passion PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS ............................................ 13 TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENTS ................................. 16 Automatic Switching to Severe Accident Simulation INFO EXCHANGE ...................................................... 20 2017 Owners Circle™ Conference (San Diego) Out and About Upcoming Events LIGHTER SIDE .......................................................... 23 Built into the bank of the Penetangore River between 1880 and 1881, the iconic Kincardine Lighthouse once serviced a busy fishing and local salt shipping industry. Kincardine is a municipality on the shores of Lake Huron in Bruce County, Ontario, Canada. Bruce Power operates the Bruce A and Bruce B Nuclear Generating Stations in the municipality and is a major employer in the area.
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A semi-annual report on L3 MAPPS Power Systems and Simulation activities
I s s u e 4 4 | J u n e 2 0 1 7
Bruce Unit 6DCC Replacement
L3 MAPPS to supplyDigital Control Computer
supporting Life-Extension Program[page 4]
IN THIS ISSUENEW BUSINESS .......................................................... 2 CAP1400 Engineering Design Analyzer Dungeness B Simulator Upgrade Replacement DCC for Bruce Unit 6 Laguna Verde Simulator – Version 3
VIEW POINT ................................................................. 6 Not 100% Renewable, But 0% Carbon
NEW BUSINESS ....................................................... 10 Ling Ao Phase II Orchid® and Severe Accident Simulation Upgrading the Koeberg Simulators
VIEW POINT .............................................................. 12 Future of Nuclear Power: Young People with Passion
TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENTS ................................. 16 Automatic Switching to Severe Accident Simulation
INFO EXCHANGE ...................................................... 20 2017 Owners Circle™ Conference (San Diego) Out and About Upcoming Events
LIGHTER SIDE .......................................................... 23Built into the bank of the Penetangore River between 1880 and 1881, the iconic Kincardine Lighthouse once serviced a busy fishing and local salt shipping industry. Kincardine is a municipality on the shores of Lake Huron in Bruce County, Ontario, Canada. Bruce Power operates the Bruce A and Bruce B Nuclear Generating Stations in the municipality and is a major employer in the area.
“Working with SNERDI gives us a new pathway into the robust Chinese nuclear power industry and allows L3 MAPPS to participate in another Generation III nuclear program,” said Michael Chatlani, vice president of marketing & sales for L3 MAPPS Power Systems and Simulation. “We are honored to contribute to this important project and stand ready to support future CAP1400 opportunities with SNERDI.”
“SNERDI put considerable effort into identifying a technology that would be well-suited to developing the Engineering Design Analyzer,” said Gu Guoxing, vice president of SNERDI. “We selected L3’s Orchid® to help us meet our goals and we look forward to L3’s collaboration as we move into the development phase.”
L3 MAPPS has delivered and installed its Orchid® simulation environment at SNERDI’s facility in Shanghai, and is providing training and support services to assist in the development of the CAP1400 Engineering Design Analyzer. L3 MAPPS is also in the process of developing the passive
containment model as well as the necessary interfaces to allow third-party applications to communicate with the Engineering Design Analyzer.
The CAP1400 Project—a large advanced passive PWR nuclear power plant developed by SNERDI as part of China’s introduction, digestion, absorption and innovation of Generation III technology—is a symbolic project for China. Preparation for two demonstration units is underway at the Rongcheng Nuclear Power Industrial Park in Shidaowan, Shandong Province.
SNERDI, a subsidiary of the State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation, is a high-tech enterprise that was established in February
1970. SNERDI has vast expertise in nuclear electric power technology, and its business scope includes plant design, EPC contracting, project consulting, equipment research and design, project management, equipment procurement, technology development and engineering services.
L3 MAPPS has been chosen to support the Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research and Design Institute (SNERDI) in developing the CAP1400 Engineering Design Analyzer—a tool for the assessment and validation of the CAP1400 reactor design.
Support to SNERDI for CAP1400 Engineering Design Analyzer
Artist's rendition of SNERDI's facility in Shanghaiso
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Artist's rendition of the Rongcheng site in Shandong Province with the CAP1400 units in the foreground
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“We are pleased to add Dungeness B to the five EDF Energy sites that we are already supporting in the U.K.,” said Michael Chatlani, vice president of marketing & sales for L3 MAPPS Power Systems and Simulation. “EDF Energy and L3 MAPPS have jointly produced excellent results on 20+ projects that were delivered on time and on budget, and we look forward to duplicating this success on the Dungeness B simulator upgrade project.”
“EDF Energy is happy to move forward with the operational phase of upgrading the Dungeness B simulator using L3’s Orchid® platform and high-fidelity models, with which we have already experienced positive results at three other Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGR) sites,” said David Norris, Training Lead at EDF Energy’s Dungeness B Nuclear Power Station.
“The addition of the Reactor 2 simulation will provide enhanced operator training opportunities and greater training realism with a full dual-unit common control room environment,” added Linden Avery, Performance Improvement Manager at Dungeness B Nuclear Power Station.
In the first phase, L3 MAPPS will replatform the legacy simulator from SGI/UNIX computers to new PC/Windows-based computers running L3’s industry-leading Orchid® simulation environment. L3 MAPPS will also replace the Reactor 1 simulator input/output (I/O) system with its compact I/O solution based on Beckhoff Automation components and L3 MAPPS’ versatile Orchid® Input Output software. Orchid® Input Output includes a rich and user-friendly GUI that allows the user to easily configure, maintain and troubleshoot the interface with the main control room instruments. The updated simulator will also include operating crew debrief capabilities powered with L3’s Orchid®
Multimedia Manager audiovisual system. Orchid® Multimedia Manager is fully synchronized with Orchid® Instructor Station and the simulated plant, allowing convenient replay and playback of training scenarios. Additionally, L3 MAPPS will provide a classroom environment where the instructor will be able to connect Orchid® Instructor Station running on a tablet to any of the students’ simulations. Furthermore, the students will be able to interact with the simulation using virtual panels displayed on three large touchscreens that are enabled with L3 MAPPS’ Orchid® Touch Interface technology.
During the second phase, L3 MAPPS will develop Dungeness B plant-specific reactor core neutronics, as well as boiler and gas circuit models for Reactor 1, using Orchid® Core Builder and Orchid® Modeling Environment. The Reactor 1 models will be adapted for Reactor 2 and connected via the common services models. L3 MAPPS will also fabricate new Reactor 2 panels and upgrade the existing Reactor 2 desk. The Reactor 2 instruments will be interfaced to the simulation via compact I/O system equipment driven by L3 MAPPS’ Orchid® Input Output software.
EDF Energy is one of the U.K.’s largest energy companies and its largest producer of low-carbon electricity. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest energy groups. EDF Energy generates approximately one-fifth of the U.K.’s electricity and employs around 15,000 people. The Dungeness B Nuclear Power Station is located on the southeast coast of England and is composed of two AGR reactors, producing a total of 1,050 MWe. AGR reactors are unique to the U.K. and use carbon dioxide (CO2) coolant instead of water as light water reactors do. Dungeness B started commercial operation in 1983 and decommissioning is expected to begin in 2028.
L3 MAPPS has been awarded a contract by United Kingdom-based EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Limited to perform upgrade work on the operator training simulator for the Dungeness B Nuclear Power Station. The two-phase project started in the fourth quarter of 2016 and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2019. L3 MAPPS is currently working on the first phase development activities with factory acceptance testing scheduled for the third quarter of 2017.
Dungeness B Quick FactsUtility: EDF EnergyReactor Supplier: Atomic Power ConstructionReactor Type: AGRCapacity: 1,050 MWe (2 units)Start of Generation: 1983Location: Romney Marsh, Kent, England
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DCC systems are used to monitor and control the major reactor and power plant functions at CANDU* nuclear power plants. The new DCC system will feature the latest SSCI-890 CPUs and will replace the legacy Varian V72 computer systems and related equipment to ensure continuous, safe and reliable performance over the service life of the plant. The design process is well underway with the customer design review set to occur in the third quarter of 2017. Major outsourced equipment has been ordered.
“Our first DCC system, built in the early 1970s, was for the Bruce site. With this new project, we have come full circle, marking a new chapter in L3 MAPPS’ DCC business,” said Michael Chatlani, vice president of marketing & sales for L3 MAPPS Power Systems and Simulation. “We are happy to continue our long collaboration with Bruce Power. Leveraging our record of on-time, on-budget performance, we look forward to our further support of the Bruce site for many years to come.”
“Replacing the DCCs at the Bruce site is an important element of the Life-Extension Program at Bruce Power,” said Mike Rencheck, president & CEO of Bruce Power. “Bruce Power’s
Life-Extension Program will mean the Bruce site will continue to power the province until 2064, and this is good news for families and businesses across Ontario. Bruce Power, and the electricity it provides Ontario families and businesses, is part of the solution over the short and long terms to provide a source of low-cost stable electricity.”
Bruce Power is Canada’s first private nuclear generator, providing 30 percent of Ontario’s power at 30 percent below the average residential price. The Bruce site, home to eight CANDU reactors in Tiverton, Ontario, is the world’s largest operating nuclear generating facility. The company is progressing with a series of incremental life-extension investments, including Major Component Replacement, to secure a clean, reliable and low-cost source of electricity for Ontario families and businesses for decades to come.
*CANDU is a registered trademark of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, used under license by Candu Energy Inc., a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group.
L3 MAPPS has won a contract from Bruce Power to replace the existing Bruce B Unit 6 Digital Control Computer (DCC) system with all-new hardware. Three DCCs will be delivered to Bruce Power. The first unit (DCC-Z) will be used as a maintenance platform and is due to be installed in the first quarter of 2019. The other two DCCs (DCC-X and DCC-Y) are redundant units for plant operations and are expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2019.
Bruce B Unit 6 Quick FactsUtility: Bruce PowerReactor Supplier: Candu EnergyReactor Type: PHWR (CANDU)Capacity: 822 MWeDate of Operation: September 1984Location: Tiverton, Ontario, Canada
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“We are pleased to join with INEEL to develop the third version of the Laguna Verde full scope simulator,” said Michael Chatlani, vice president of marketing & sales for L3 MAPPS Power Systems and Simulation. “This order represents our first sale into the Mexican market, which we are thrilled about.”
“We appreciate L3 MAPPS’ flexibility in developing a project plan that meets our budget and technical requirements, as well as those of CFE,” said Dr. José Montoya Murillo, INEEL project manager. “I am convinced that the combination of INEEL and L3 MAPPS’ simulation expertise will yield a high-quality, high-fidelity upgraded simulator.”
“After a thorough review of the simulation technology available on the market, CFE and INEEL concluded that the Orchid® simulation environment is the best-suited product to meet CFE’s needs,” said Fabián Barrios Eufrasio, CFE's engineering analysis head. “CFE was particularly impressed with Orchid®’s configuration management, source management and regression testing features, all of which will facilitate simulator maintenance and the inclusion of future plant modifications into the simulator.”
L3 MAPPS will deploy its Orchid® simulation suite, to be utilized for all phases of the modernization project, and will train INEEL’s simulation personnel. During the first phase, INEEL will replatform the existing plant simulation from a third-party platform to Orchid® and will develop the virtual panels with L3 MAPPS’ on-site and remote support. INEEL will also develop new emergency diesel generator models using Orchid® Modeling Environment.
At the end of the first phase, Laguna Verde trainees will interact with the simulation via L3 MAPPS-provided Orchid®
Touch Interface bays for an accurate representation of the control room environment using touchscreen monitors with 1080p full HD resolution. For added realism, INEEL will also include simulated control room sounds using Orchid® Sound System. Laguna Verde’s instructors will control and monitor all aspects of the simulation with Orchid® Instructor Station. The emergency diesel generators will be interfaced to the simulation with a Beckhoff I/O system driven by Orchid® Input Output.
INEEL was created by presidential decree on 1 December 1975 as the Instituto de Investigaciones Eléctricas (IIE), a public electricity and energy research center. In June 2016, IIE changed its operating name to Instituto Nacional de Electricidad y Energías Limpias. INEEL’s mission is to promote sustainable development in electricity and clean energy through innovation. INEEL is one of the leading institutions of research and technological development in Mexico. INEEL employs 530 highly educated researchers (42 percent with bachelor’s degrees, 42 percent with master’s degrees and 16 percent with doctorate degrees).
The Laguna Verde nuclear power plant is located on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, in Alto Lucero, Veracruz, Mexico. It is the only nuclear power plant in Mexico and produces about 4.5 percent of the country’s electrical energy. It consists of two General Electric Boiling Water Reactor (BWR-5) units, each one with installed capacity of 810 megawatts. Unit 1 began operating on 29 July 1990, and Unit 2 began operating on 10 April 1995. The plant is owned and operated by CFE, the national electric company owned by the Mexican government.
L3 MAPPS received an order from Instituto Nacional de Electricidad y Energías Limpias (INEEL) to support the modernization of the Laguna Verde full scope simulator for Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE). In the first phase of the project, INEEL will develop a classroom simulator using L3 MAPPS’ Orchid® simulation environment equipped with interactive virtual panels and emergency diesel generator local panels. The overall modernization project will be executed in multiple phases, with the first phase set to complete in the second half of 2017.
Laguna Verde Unit 2 Quick FactsUtility: Comisión Federal de ElectricidadReactor Supplier: General ElectricReactor Type: BWRCapacity: 810 MWeDate of Operation: April 1995Location: Alto Lucero, Veracruz, Mexico
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Anyone familiar with our work on energy issues will not be surprised by my sincere support of nuclear power as the only realistic solution to climate change in the electricity (and possibly transport and industrial heat) arena. I’ve laid my cards on the table in the peer-reviewed literature and the standard media, and I’ve even joined the board of Bright New World, a new environmental NGO that supports nuclear.
And there is hope, despite the ever-increasing human population, rising consumerism, dwindling resources, and the ubiquity of ideologically driven and ethically compromised politicians. I am hopeful for several reasons, including
rising safety and reliability standards of modern nuclear technology, the continued momentum of building new fission reactors in many countries, and even the beginnings of real conversations about nuclear power (or at least, the first steps toward this) in countries where nuclear energy is currently banned (e.g., Australia). I’m also heartened by the fact that nearly every conservation scientist with whom I speak is generally supportive, or at least non-resistant, to the idea of nuclear power as part of the climate change solution. An open letter by our colleagues attests to this. In fact, every day that passes brings new evidence that we cannot ignore this solution any longer.
Even despite the evidence in support of implementing a strong nuclear component into climate change-mitigation strategies, one of the most frequent arguments for not doing so is that society can achieve all of its energy needs and simultaneously combat climate change by constructing 100% renewable-energy pathways. While it is an easy mantra to repeat because it feels right intrinsically to nearly everyone with an environmental conscience, as a scientist I also had to ask if such a monumental task is even technically feasible.
Don’t get me wrong—I’m a huge fan of renewable energy and its development, purchase, and installation, but only if (and that’s a whopping, great if) it displaces electricity generation from fossil fuels. Therein lies the rub—while this can be achieved up to a certain point (a point that is entirely dependent on a region’s specific set of environmental, geographic, political, demographic, and economic conditions), it tends to fall apart when renewable penetrations become high. The main reason for this is the
dispatchability limitations and storage requirements of renewables-generated electricity.
An energy source that is dispatchable is able to be called-up or withdrawn at any time in response to demand changes, which means that it has to be able to provide electricity at a moment’s notice in response to variable demand. While battery technology is improving and making this easier, better batteries alone are not the solution, especially from an environmental viewpoint.
But the plot thickens when one examines the entire breadth of feasibility* requirements for renewable energy, which is exactly what we’ve just done in a new, comprehensive review of 100% renewable studies from around the world.
Led by my soon-to-be-completed PhD student, Benjamin Heard, we have just published the first empirical assessment of the feasibility of existing 100% renewable-energy plans from around the world. As we had originally suspected, the news is not good for the faithful of a 100% renewable future.
Conservation biologists will probably not wish me to go over every single detail of this rather technical review, but I will summarize the main criteria
that we used to judge the studies. We required studies to demonstrate four essential criteria to be considered feasible: (1) capable of tracking realistic projections of demand, (2) electricity must be supplied to match demand at a fine temporal scale, (3) transmission must be able to deliver the electricity generated, (4) ancillary services (e.g., frequency control) must be maintained.
In short, not one of the 24 studies we examined met all criteria, and most failed the basic feasibility test so badly that even being generous didn’t improve their purported reality. More specifically from a conservation perspective, it turns out that most of the studies also relied on an insane amount of hydro and/or biomass sources to meet even their unrealistic projections. We know collectively as a conservation community that both of these sources are disastrous for species conservation, mainly in terms of habitat destruction (see, inter alia, key studies on hydro (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1017/S1464793105006950/abstract) and biomass (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1890/09-0673.1/abstract).
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In short, even if these studies hadn’t failed to meet the main feasibility criteria, we as conservation biologists should be highly dubious regardless based on the reliance on these destructive practices.
The result is a stark wake-up call to the sustainability community about how we can achieve sensible climate-
change mitigation policies fast enough to combat our almost out-of-control climate disruption. It’s also another reason that I continue to solidify my support for next-generation nuclear
technology as part of the mix. While I want to see renewables implemented, we cannot rely on them alone.
Instead of the “100% renewables” mantra, we should instead be chanting “0% carbon.”
Editor’s Note: This article is reproduced from a blogpost written by Professor Bradshaw on 5 April 2017 on ConservationBytes.com.
Professor Corey J.A. Bradshaw joined Flinders University in the School of Biological Sciences in January 2017 as the new Matthew Flinders Fellow in Global Ecology. He is also a Chief Investigator in the new ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage.
From 2008 to 2015, Corey was at the University of Adelaide (Sir Hubert Wilkins Chair of Climate Change, 2015-2016) and from 2004 to 2008, he was Senior then Principal Research Fellow at Charles Darwin University. Corey was an ARC Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Tasmania from 1999 to 2004.
Corey’s research is mainly in the area of global-change ecology—how human endeavour and climate fluctuations have altered past, present and future ecosystems. His most important contributions have been in the area of applied ecology, biodiversity conservation, theoretical ecology, extinction dynamics, human demography, species responses to climate change, disease ecology, and applying ecological theory and modelling techniques to hindcast prehistoric ecosystems. His work has provided environmental policy advice around the world.
Professor Bradshaw holds a PhD from the University of Otago, New Zealand, an MSc from University of Alberta, Canada, a BSc from Université de Montréal and a Postgraduate Certificate from Murdoch University in Veterinary Conservation Medicine.
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simnews: Laguna Verde site has two General Electric Boiling Water Reactor (BWR-5) units, each one with installed capacity of 810 megawatts. What is it like to work at the only nuclear power plant in Mexico?
F. Barrios: Working at a nuclear power plant in México is both demanding and rewarding. Being challenged by world-class nuclear standards on a daily basis and participating in a competitive electricity market with many other different technologies requires every worker at Laguna Verde to commit to safe and cost-effective operations which is definitely a very satisfying professional experience.
simnews: Please provide us the Laguna Verde simulator history from its original construction up to now.
F. Barrios: The first simulator was built by the Instituto de Investigaciones Eléctricas (Mexican Electrical Research Institute) which is the former name of INEEL. The Institute developed a modeling platform using technologies available in the 1980s and a lot of analog electronics. After several years of successfully training operators for both units, in the early 2000s CFE decided to upgrade the full
scope simulator into a more recent platform through an open bid.
For the second version, a US-based company provided the modeling environment partnered with a Spanish nuclear technology company, which participated in providing the reactor core and RCS models together with the I/O System. A classroom simulator was also introduced
with the new platform.
Our current simulator has been operating with
the version 2 platform
for more than 10 years now.
simnews: What motivated CFE to initiate a project for version 3 of the Laguna Verde simulator?
F. Barrios: Last year, Mexico established a new plan to implement Energy Reform (Reforma Energética) to boost the national energy sector. A major component of the reform are the changes to the electricity market, which are aimed at developing a competitive electricity sector. Consequently, CFE must redouble efforts to reduce costs and increase productivity in order to compete with other state-owned and private companies. At the same time, Laguna Verde is experiencing high demand for operators due to the retirement of the first generations. This condition demands many simulator hours and leaves very short maintenance windows, so changes and attending discrepancies must be performed in a very efficient way.
The team operating and supporting the simulator identified a few areas where newer simulation technology could help reduce the simulator time required for implementing plant changes and solving discrepancies, as well as reducing the number of instructors required at the console. Moreover, the I/O system has many obsolete components that need replacement, so an I/O system upgrade is also required.
All these factors contributed to the decision to initiate a version 3 project for the simulator.
simnews: Please explain the different project phases and the objectives for each phase.
F. Barrios: This project is divided in three phases:
Phase 1 will deliver a rehosted classroom simulator using the Orchid® platform, an Emergency Diesel Generator panel and the detailed engineering required for replacing the existing I/O components to the compact I/O system offered by L3 MAPPS. After completing this phase, we will be able to provide simulator-based classroom training for operator candidates, conduct exercises with auxiliary operators for EDG local operations and have a detailed cost estimate for the I/O hardware and labor for better estimating Phase 2 costs.
In January 2017, L3 MAPPS announced that it would work with Instituto Nacional de Electricidad y Energías Limpias (INEEL) to modernize the Laguna Verde simulator (BWR) on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, in Alto Lucero, Veracruz, Mexico. The owner and end-user for the modernized simulator will be Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE). The ongoing project is the third major evolution of the plant’s simulator. In this issue of simnews, we get together with Fabián Barrios Eufrasio, CFE’s Engineering Analysis Head, to learn more about CFE’s motivations for upgrading the simulator and ultimately choosing INEEL and L3 MAPPS.
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Phase 2 adds new reactor core and NSSS models, together with new containment and BOP models. This phase also considers upgrading the I/O system and installing the new platform in the full scope simulator. The objective of this phase is to upgrade Laguna Verde’s full scope simulator to the Orchid® platform, reduce the amount of time needed for simulator maintenance and to reduce the number of required simulator instructors.
In Phase 3, we plan to implement severe accident simulation and some other auxiliary models. By the end of this phase, we expect to have the capabilities to simulate severe accidents both on the full scope simulator and on a desktop version of the simulator.
simnews: Why did CFE adopt this multi-phase approach for version 3 of the Laguna Verde simulator?
F. Barrios: Given the limited time available on the simulator, it is unlikely that we would be able to replace the I/O system and perform the new version acceptance tests in the available maintenance windows in 2017 and 2018, therefore we decided to have a phased approach in order to reduce the testing required for the full scope simulator upgrade to the available simulator downtime. At the same time, the phased approach allowed CFE to arrange a convenient project financing scheme.
simnews: Please explain why CFE decided to partner with INEEL and L3 MAPPS for this project.
F. Barrios: For many decades, INEEL has collaborated with CFE as its technological support partner in different areas, including simulation and training. Their experience in developing and maintaining the first simulator version and supporting Laguna Verde on version 2 for the last few years, coupled with the knowledgeable and skilled workforce available at the institute, were the reasons behind CFE’s decision to partner with INEEL in this endeavour.
On the other hand, after a thorough market investigation of the available simulator platforms for nuclear power plants, we identified that L3 MAPPS’ Orchid® simulation platform best suits Laguna Verde's current simulator needs. Having excellent feedback from L3 MAPPS’ clients strengthened the reasons for CFE to work with L3 MAPPS as well.
simnews: What Orchid® features were most attractive to CFE?
F. Barrios: Among all the great features available in Orchid®, we were mostly attracted to the (1) core visualization tools and the ease of initial conditions preparation after a core update, (2) simulation loads/version management, (3) the configuration control and management tools and (4) the integration of MAAP5 for real-time and faster-than-real-time severe accidents simulation.
simnews: Why did CFE decide to include severe accident simulation in the project scope?
F. Barrios: After the Fukushima accident in 2011 and as part of the response actions that the nuclear industry is conducting, it is important to train personnel that would be involved in a hypothetical severe accident and to have a tool for refining procedures and mitigation strategies. Although Laguna Verde is currently able to model severe accidents for engineering purposes, having a real-time solution would provide a flexible way to test different scenarios and here is where having severe accidents simulation in the simulator fits perfectly.
simnews: Thanks for your answers to our questions. Now, outside of work, what do you enjoy the most about living in the Veracruz area?
F. Barrios: Veracruz state is a one of the most beautiful and interesting areas in Mexico. Not only do we have ruins of ancient cultures as Olmec and Totonaca but we also have a rich and diverse culture, mainly in music, dance and gastronomy. Likewise, it is an important touristic destination, well known for its beautiful beaches and warm people.
From all this, what I miss the most when I am away from Veracruz is eating our famous picadas and tacos, drinking horchata, having a fun salsa dancing night and running on the beach.
“L3 MAPPS made new investments last year to enhance autoswitching to the severe accident simulation model, and we are delighted that CGN will be the first to take advantage of our latest research and development efforts,” said Michael Chatlani, vice president of marketing & sales for L3 MAPPS Power Systems and Simulation.
“We worked closely with L3 MAPPS to deploy China’s first severe nuclear accident simulation on the Ling Ao Phase II full scope simulator in 2013 to enhance training scenarios that simulate degraded reactor core conditions,” said Ma Deyou, senior chief engineer, Training Center, Daya Bay Nuclear Power Operations and Management Co., Ltd. (DNMC). “This new project is the next step in enhancing the unique capability that we already have.”
The current simulation environment, based on the Visual Simex™ simulator executive and ROSE® plant models, is being migrated to Orchid® Simulator Executive and Orchid® Modeling Environment, respectively. The migration to the Orchid® environment is nearing completion and is expected to be delivered to the customer site in the second quarter of 2017.
The previously delivered MAAP 5.01 models are being replaced with MAAP 5.04 to enable autoswitching during periods of elevated fuel temperatures. With MAAP5, the updated Ling Ao Phase II simulator will be used for training scenarios relating
to degraded reactor core conditions that result in fuel melting, including cladding oxidation and hydrogen generation, vessel failure, containment failure and fission product release. MAAP5-DOSE will be used to calculate simulated off-site dose rates. Work on updating the MAAP5 model is in progress and on target for factory testing in the third quarter of 2017.
MAAP5 is a software program that performs severe accident analysis for nuclear power plants, including assessments of core damage and radiological transport. The simulator is already equipped with 2-D and 3-D animated, interactive visualizations of the reactor vessel, containment building and spent fuel pool to
provide operators with additional insight into the behavior of the plant during severe accidents.
CGN’s Ling Ao Phase II nuclear plant comprises the first two CPR1000 nuclear generating units that were put into commercial operation—the first unit in September 2010 and the second in August 2011. The CPR1000 is a Chinese standard design featuring a 1,080 MWe three-loop pressurized water reactor (PWR). The Ling Ao Phase II full scope simulator, built by L3 MAPPS in cooperation with AREVA and Siemens, was put into service in August 2009.
*A valid license to MAAP5 from EPRI is required prior to a customer being able to use MAAP5 with Licensee’s simulator products. EPRI does not endorse any third-party products or services.
L3 MAPPS has been awarded a contract from Ling Ao Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. (LANPC), a division of China General Nuclear (CGN), to upgrade the Ling Ao Phase II full scope simulator with L3’s latest Orchid® simulation software. Under this contract, the company will also enable the simulator with a severe accident simulation model that automatically switches from the standard L3 MAPPS plant models to Electric Power Research Institute’s (EPRI) Modular Accident Analysis Program (MAAP5*). The updated simulation environment and “autoswitch” program are due to be in service in the first quarter of 2018.
Ling Ao Phase II Unit 1 Quick FactsUtility: Ling Dong Nuclear Power Co.Reactor Supplier: Dongfang Electric/Nuclear Power Institute of China/AREVAReactor Type: PWRCapacity: 1,080 MWeDate of Operation: September 2010Location: Da Keng, Guangdong, China
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“We have been supporting Eskom since 2002 and have thoroughly enjoyed working together on interesting and challenging projects that deliver innovative technological solutions,” said Michael Chatlani, vice president of marketing & sales for L3 MAPPS Power Systems and Simulation. “We are very pleased to continue our collaboration with Eskom as we roll out this new project.”
“Eskom and L3 MAPPS have made significant achievements together toward enhancing the operator training program at Koeberg through our collective work on the simulators,” said Willem van der Sandt, project manager, Strategic Nuclear Projects at Eskom’s Koeberg Operating Unit. “We look forward to the same collaborative approach as we move forward with this latest upgrade effort.”
In the first phase, set to be completed in the first quarter of 2018, L3 MAPPS will replatform the two simulators from PC/Linux simulation servers to new PC/Windows-based computers running L3’s latest Orchid® simulation environment. L3 MAPPS will also replace the existing Comet™ reactor core model with Comet Plus™ models. The new models, which solve the diffusion equations by using the Nodal Expansion Method, will be graphically generated and managed with Orchid® Core Builder. The design of the first phase is nearing completion.
During the second phase, the existing steam generator models will be updated to account for the changes resulting from the new steam generators that will be installed at the plant.
Finally, following completion of the plant modification, the third phase will see a further update to the new steam generator models to ensure that the models are behaving in the exact same manner as the newly commissioned steam generators on the plant.
Eskom generates approximately 95 percent of the electricity used in South Africa and approximately 45 percent of the electricity used in Africa. Eskom generates, transmits and distributes electricity to industrial, mining, commercial, agricultural and residential customers. Additional power stations and major power lines are being built to meet rising electricity demand in South Africa. Koeberg Power Station is currently the only nuclear power station on the African continent. It is situated at Duynefontein, 30 kilometers northwest of Cape Town in South Africa on the Atlantic coast. Koeberg, with two pressurized water reactor units and the largest turbine generators in the southern hemisphere, produces 1,860 megawatts of power and ensures a reliable supply of electricity to the Western Cape Province.
L3 MAPPS signed a contract with Eskom Holdings SOC Limited (Eskom) to perform a multi-phase project to prepare the two Koeberg Power Station operator training simulators for the steam generator replacement that is taking place on the actual plant units.
Koeberg Unit 1 Quick FactsUtility: EskomReactor Supplier: AREVAReactor Type: PWRCapacity: 930 MWeDate of Operation: April 1984Location: Duynefontein, Melkbosstrand, South Africa
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June 2017 | simnews | 11
We talk a lot about the merits of nuclear power in MZConsulting’s blog. From economics and reliability to environment, we focus on why nuclear is now and should be an essential part of our future energy mix. But how do we get there? Again, we often talk about the challenges associated with public acceptance and how we can better position nuclear as the energy solution we all know it is.
But today we want to focus on something different. People. We have been privileged to work in this industry for more than 35 years. Often it’s hard to believe that this much time has passed since we were so excited to start our first jobs as a young engineer working on nuclear safety. Over the years there have been many challenges as the industry slowed, in part due to the accident at Chernobyl, in part due to the slowdown in energy demand growth in many industrialized countries, and the challenges of building capital intensive large projects into deregulated markets. But one thing has not changed: our passion for the industry—our passion for making the world a better place with clean reliable economic nuclear power. And we are not alone.
At a recent industry event, I spoke to many of our colleagues, many of whom have come out of retirement again and again because their passion for nuclear power as a solution to
meeting our ever-growing energy needs is simply impossible to extinguish. Some are well into their 70s and their enthusiasm is as strong as when they were in their 30s.
With nuclear power growing once again, it is time to ensure its continuity by instilling this passion into a new generation of young people. It is the fuel that will ensure the industry continues to be innovative and reaches its full potential going forward. That being said it is important to focus on what is important to this new generation of engineers and scientists, what will keep them enthused and committed. It is hard to imagine millennials thinking of utilities or large industrial companies as the growth companies of the future. Rather they think of companies like Google, Facebook and Uber when it comes to large innovative exciting companies—or they believe in being entrepreneurs and starting their own tech start-up. This ad campaign by GE (www.youtube.com/embed/OvfU1NpCJQQ) is a brilliant one as it tries to show young people that it can indeed be exciting to be in this large industrial company—that not everyone has to be coding and developing the next app that puts hats on cats—but that to truly change the world, it is the future of things like transportation and energy that really matters. I love it (there are a series of these ads, just go to YouTube and you can see more).
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In the nuclear industry we have the problem of a gap in age. There are many people in their 50s through to retirement age who have been in the industry for decades, and then there is a new cohort of young people who have joined the industry in the last 10 years or less. This new young cohort has different work expectations than the older group. They expect to be able to find a place and make a meaningful contribution in a relatively short time. They are impatient and expect to change jobs many times in their career. They do not expect to join one company and stay there until they retire.
Yet we are an industry that believes that it takes years to learn and become an expert. We need people with 10-plus years’ experience and we need experts who continue to grow as they gain the experience needed to make a difference.
Therefore, as industry leaders we need to understand and address the desires and concerns of those just starting out. We need to remember that 30 years ago when we
were younger we quickly developed into experts as new techniques were established and we did
not have the benefit of people like us to show us the ropes. We were at the
leading edge and we loved working in this exciting young industry.
We learned on the job. We were excited with every
opportunity and put our best into developing a product that we strongly believed in. These are the conditions we need to replicate for this next generation. We need to ensure they are
actively engaged, play a strong role in
new projects and in innovating as
the industry moves
forward. We need to provide them with the opportunities they crave to develop their passion for this exciting industry. Competition for these people will be fierce and we need to show that the nuclear industry is where they can truly make a difference in the world.
Sometimes as conservative engineers, we need to push back when anti-nuclear activists state that it is not fair to leave problems for future generations to solve. As one quite learned colleague once said, why solve every issue—we need to leave some things for the bright young people following us to solve, because they will be smarter than we are and bring new thinking to old issues.
While many think the future of nuclear power depends on public acceptance, or solving the waste issue, or improving nuclear safety, it actually depends on building a passionate next generation of young people to take it in directions that none of us has even thought of yet. Life is about passion, so let’s all work to bring out the passion in a new generation of nuclear people. The future is open to us—but only if we can attract the best and brightest people needed to make it happen.
That is the future of nuclear power
Milt Caplan, president of MZConsulting Inc., has more than 35 years’ experience in the nuclear industry advising utilities, governments and companies on new build nuclear projects and investments in uranium. He is the current chair of the World Nuclear Association Economics Working Group and is on the faculty of the World Nuclear University where he teaches nuclear economics, nuclear
plant structuring and financing and nuclear technology selection. Milt obtained his Bachelor of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, USA, and an MBA from the University of Toronto.
Editor’s Note: This article is reproduced from a blogpost written by Mr. Caplan on 18 October 2016 on MZConsulting.com.
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ResetPoint
TriggerPoint
SwitchPoint
Hottest FuelTemp
MAAP5Transition
Zone
L3 MAPPS Modelsfreeze when Tf > 775
MAPP5 freezeswhen Tf > 725
SwitchReset
L3 MAPPSModels
725 C 750 C 775 C
Initialize MAAP5 Switch
MAPP5Activiates
Autoswitch mechanism for MAAP5
Basic Design
The simulator automatically switches from L3 MAPPS models to the combined MAAP5/Orchid® models as a result of elevated fuel temperature. MAAP5 will be initialized to any state based on inputs from the L3 MAPPS models prior to entering into SAS. Prior to this initialization, the MAAP5 models are frozen. The remaining, interfacing L3 MAPPS models remain active.
Autoswitch makes it easy for simulator users. No action is required on the part of users to enable SAS. Any IC can be used. As long as the SAS condition is reached, the plant model will transition to the MAAP5 models automatically. Enabling SAS will unfreeze the MAAP5 models, initialize them, freeze the corresponding L3 MAPPS models (reactor core, NSSS and containment) and switch the boundary system interfaces from the L3 MAPPS models to MAAP5. Initialization of MAAP5 models prior to entering into severe accident conditions is paramount to the success of the Autoswitch mechanism. The MAAP5 spent fuel pool (SFP) model is discussed later.
L3 MAPPS ensures the fidelity, real-time operation and stability of the simulator during the switchover. A smooth transition of the key parameters without a sudden or noticeable change is performed. To ensure a nearly bump-free transition, as a minimum, the following requirements are satisfied:
1. The step change of the key parameters < 2% during switchover from the standard simulator operating plant models to the SAS models.
2. The trending of key parameters is maintained during switchover.
3. Real-time performance of the simulator should not be affected.
4. Severe accidents could be triggered from all operating conditions including reactor at power, normal shutdown, cold shutdown, spent fuel pool (SFP) accident in progress, etc.
The MAAP5 spent fuel pool (SFP) model takes into account the inventory of the spent fuel and its history
and simulates the effect on the fuel of loss of cooling, including fuel uncovery, temperature increase, melting, hydrogen generation and fission product release. The MAAP5 spent fuel model uses the same variables and models to simulate the fuel in the SFP and in the reactor. Consequently, the reactor and the SFP cannot be simulated simultaneously in the standalone, offline version of MAAP5. In order to address this on the simulator, L3 MAPPS runs two instances of MAAP5 during SAS, one for the reactor, NSSS and containment and one for the SFP.
The MAAP5 SFP is implemented differently than the other MAAP5 models. L3 MAPPS chose to communicate with the MAAP5 SFP during all operating states, both during normal operations and in accident conditions. As such, the MAAP5 SFP is continuously running, i.e. there is no need to switch models prior to entering into severe accident conditions.
The Autoswitch mechanism implementation requires version 5.04 (or later) of MAAP5.
MAAP5 Autoswitch Mechanism
The first figure below shows the Autoswitch mechanism for MAAP5. When the hottest fuel cladding temperature in the core reaches the Trigger Point (750 ˚C), the Autoswitch mechanism is triggered. MAAP5 will be activated and immediately initialized to the same conditions as the L3 MAPPS models at that point for the reactor, NSSS and containment. The initialization process
AutoswitchSmooth Transition to Severe Accident Simulation
Since the late 1990s, L3 MAPPS has been engaged in deploying severe accident simulations (SAS) that are integrated with and synchronized on real-time, operator training simulators. Multiple nuclear plant operator training simulators have been or are in the process of being equipped with SAS for various plant types (PWR, BWR, CANDU*) in several countries (China, Finland, Japan, Korea, Slovenia and the USA). The technology selected by L3 MAPPS to enable SAS on these simulators is the Modular Accident Analysis Program (MAAP**). In previous SAS implementations on the simulators, instructors were required to select initial conditions (ICs) to enable SAS with degraded core conditions. However, demand has been increasing for the ability to automatically switch from the standard simulator operating regime (normal evolutions, abnormal conditions and Design Basis Accidents) to severe, degraded core conditions. In 2016, L3 MAPPS invested in developing an “Autoswitch” to smoothly transition from the standard simulator operating regime to the combined MAAP/Orchid® models when approaching severe accident conditions. In this report, we highlight the Autoswitch work carried out in collaboration with Fauske & Associates, the original MAAP code developer, and the results.
re-flooded *** Fuel temperature starts to increase*** Fuel temperature reaches trigger point and
MAAP5 is activated***You figure it out.
involves synchronizing various properties inside MAAP5, such as the masses and energies, with the values coming from the L3 MAPPS models.
After the initialization, MAAP5 will run in parallel with the L3 MAPPS models in the Transition Zone receiving the same inputs as L3 MAPPS models. The initialization step is critical to the process of synchronizing the MAAP5 models with L3 MAPPS models.
When the hottest fuel cladding temperature reaches the Switch Point (775 ˚C), the corresponding L3 MAPPS models will be frozen and MAAP5 will take over. To ensure that there are no perceived discontinuities, the outputs of the models to the main control room panels and other visual displays (e.g. DCS, PPC, etc.) will transition slowly from L3 MAPPS models’ outputs to MAAP5 outputs. At this point, the model is completely switched to MAAP5 and it is not permitted to switch back to the standard simulator operating regime models because some control rod elements are already melted at these temperatures.
If the temperature does not reach 775 ˚C and ultimately decreases to 725 ˚C (or less) after the Autoswitch mechanism has already been triggered, the Autoswitch mechanism will be discontinued, MAAP5 will be deactivated and model results will return to being calculated by the L3 MAPPS models.
Scenarios and Results
A wide selection of severe accident scenarios have been tested with the Autoswitch mechanism. These include large and small break sizes for Loss of Coolant Accidents (LOCAs), at power or at cold shutdown conditions, with or without mitigations such as using the Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) or auxiliary feedwater. Sample results for two of the scenarios are shown here to illustrate the Autoswitch mechanism’s performance.
The reference platform is a typical 4-loop Westinghouse PWR with large dry containment.
The reactor vessel level, Reactor Coolant System (RCS) pressure, temperatures, and cladding temperatures at the bottom, middle and top of the core are shown in the following plots.
Scenario 1: Large Break LOCA without Safety Injection
A large break LOCA at Cold Leg 1 without any ECCS injection. The overall sequence of events up to the onset of the severe accident is summarized below:
A large break at the cold leg causes a rapid depressurization in the RCS. The reactor vessel level drops immediately down to a low level, recovers somewhat due to accumulator injection, and then continues to decrease because there is no ECCS. The fuel cladding temperatures decrease initially after the reactor trip, then start to increase when the core is exposed leading to core heat-up. The RCS temperatures rise following the core heat-up. The scenario progresses into severe accident conditions after the core heat-up. Autoswitch occurs prior to entering into severe accident conditions.
Can you spot where the switchover occurs?
AutoswitchSmooth Transition to Severe Accident Simulation
Large Break LOCA, Cold Leg, No Safety Injection
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Scenario 2: Station Blackout (SBO)
The overall sequence of events up to the onset of the severe accident is summarized below:
With SBO, the RCS pressure remains high after the reactor trips. However, only after the SGs boil dry (not shown in the plot) does the RCS pressure make a sharp increase because the decay heat in the RCS cannot be removed anymore by the SGs. The RCS pressure hits the pressurizer safety valves' set point causing them to cycle open. RCS is losing inventory via the safety valves while the pressure is maintained high. Eventually the pressurizer empties out leading to voiding in the reactor vessel. The reactor level continues to drop and the core starts to heat up leading to cladding temperatures and then the RCS temperature increases. The scenario progresses into severe accident conditions after the core heat-up and Autoswitch is triggered.
Can you spot where the switchover occurs?
Station Blackout
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Time Event Description
7 sec Reactor Trip, Turbine Trip, RCPs Trip5500 sec SGs boil dry, RCS starts to heat up which
causes the Pressurizer safeties to cycle open to relieve the pressure
*** RCS loses inventory and core starts to uncover*** Fuel temperature starts to rise*** Fuel temperature reaches trigger point and
MAAP5 is activated*** Fuel temperature reaches trigger point and
MAAP5 is activated***You figure it out.
Station Blackout – Switch Point Shown
Large Break LOCA, Cold Leg, No Safety Injection – Switch Point Shown
*CANDU is a registered trademark of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, used under license by Candu Energy Inc., a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group.
** A valid license to MAAP5 from EPRI is required prior to a customer being able to use MAAP5 with Licensee’s simulator products. EPRI does not endorse any third-party products or services. A valid license to MAAP4 from EPRI as well as the right to MAAP4-CANDU from the CANDU Owners Group (COG) is required prior to a customer being able to use MAAP4-CANDU with Licensee’s simulator products. EPRI and COG do not endorse any third-party products or services.
Where is the Switch Point?
The Switch Points are shown in the following plots for the two scenarios discussed previously. As can be seen, smooth transition is ensured with L3 MAPPS’ Autoswitch design.
You asked and here it is. The ability to automatically switch from the standard simulator operating regime to severe, degraded core conditions is now a reality. L3 MAPPS’ first project deployment of the Autoswitch mechanism is taking place on the Ling Ao Phase II full scope operator training simulator (see story in the New Business section of this issue of simnews). Autoswitch seamlessly integrates MAAP5 into L3 MAPPS’ simulator environment and makes SAS in L3 MAPPS simulators intuitive to use and easy to maintain.
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Save the DatesThe next North American edition of the Owners Circle™ Conference will take place on 18-19 January 2018 in Houston, Texas. Owners Circle™ Online will be updated with more details soon.
On day one, the group met for a short business meeting to cover the previous Owners Circle™ Conferences’ action items, L3 MAPPS Power Systems and Simulation business overview and outlook, and recent and upcoming Orchid® technology updates. There were many technology updates covered including a sneak peek at the forthcoming touch version of Orchid® Instructor Station.
Later that same day, after a short walk across the street, the group arrived at the Star of the Sea Event Center
overlooking the famous Star of India, the world’s oldest active sailing ship, and the beautiful San Diego Bay. L3 MAPPS’ guests had the opportunity to network prior to and during dinner. Afterwards, our guests were entertained by Bill Fleming, an excellent solo guitarist playing soft rock songs and taking special requests. Sadly, the Owners Circle™ Conference networking dinner was the last event to be held in the Star of the Sea Event Center, so the fantastic staff were feeling especially nostalgic.
The business meeting resumed on day two with live tool reviews of L3 MAPPS’ latest learning technologies (i.e. Learning Modules, System Knowledge Modules and Learning Simulators) and a very insightful presentation on the Diablo Canyon simulator multi-phase upgrade strategy by Tom Luniewski, simulator specialist at Pacific Gas & Electric. After the mid-morning break, our Trevor Spooner (L3 Marine Systems UK) gave an interesting perspective on blended training utilizing an Astute-class submarine full scope motion
platform and a soft panel trainer. More live tool reviews followed on the latest status of Orchid® Instructor Station, Orchid® Modeling Environment and Orchid® Multimedia Manager. The meeting concluded with questions and answers and open discussions.
L3 MAPPS would like to thank Tom Luniewski and Trevor Spooner for their valued contributions to the Owners Circle™ Conference. We would also like to thank all the Owners Circle™ Conference participants who joined the meeting and the L3 MAPPS support team from Canada and the USA.
If you are a user of L3 MAPPS simulation products and wish to join us for future Owners Circle™ conferences or if you would like to be a co-host, please contact us at [email protected].
The North American edition of L3 MAPPS’ 2017 Owners Circle™ Conference was held on 19-20 January in San Diego, California with participants from Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and the USA (California, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas). The event included meetings on Thursday afternoon and Friday and a networking evening on Thursday night.
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Register Now The next European edition of the Owners Circle™ Conference will take place on 4-5 October 2017 in Vienna, Austria. Please visit Owners Circle™ Online for more details and to register.
Out and AboutSince the last issue of simnews was published, L3 MAPPS has been out and about at various conferences and tradeshows demonstrating its extensive Power Systems and Simulation know-how and technologies. A round-up of the most recent events follows.
2017 PowerPlantSim ConferenceL3 MAPPS was pleased to participate at PowerPlantSim 2017 in San Diego, California. It was a very busy three days of presentations and networking. We appreciate the Society for Computer Modeling & Simulation International for organizing the event every year. This year, L3 MAPPS delivered four technical presentations at the conference:
• From Rehost to I/O System Replacement: A Major Simulator Upgrade for the Krško NPP
• Sizewell B Simulator Upgrade Augmented with New Learning Technologies
• Introducing Digital Controls on Legacy Simulators
• Minimizing Cyber Security Threats to the Simulator.
Following the event, L3 MAPPS hosted its customers at the 2017 Owners Circle™ Conference—a forum exclusively for our power plant simulation users, also in San Diego.
CONTE 2017L3 MAPPS was present at the American Nuclear Society's Conference on Nuclear Training & Education (5-8 February 2017) in Jacksonville, Florida. L3 MAPPS delivered two presentations at the conference:
• Using Technology to Enhance Nuclear Learning and Knowledge Retention
• Recent Post-Fukushima Simulator Updates.
CONTE 2017 has been an excellent event to meet our customers and to meet new colleagues that are passionate about nuclear training.
2017 CNA Conference + Trade Show"Mission Possible: Innovation for a Cleantech Future": L3 MAPPS spent three days (22-24 February 2017) in Ottawa participating at the Canadian Nuclear Association's 2017 Conference. L3 MAPPS got its start in the nuclear sector in the early 1970s, building operator training simulators
and Digital Control Computers for the nuclear reactor fleet in Ontario. We are eternally grateful to our Canadian partners. Our original work in Canada laid the groundwork for the innovative spirit at L3 MAPPS, resulted in numerous industry firsts and gave rise to worldwide recognition of our products and services.
2017 International Nuclear Power Plants SummitL3 MAPPS was involved with IV. International Nuclear Power Plants Summit (8-9 March 2017) in Istanbul. Turkey is at the early stages of its nuclear new build program. L3 MAPPS demonstrated its learning technologies (Learning Modules, System Knowledge Modules and Learning Simulators) aimed at improving nuclear knowledge for newcomers. We also delivered a keynote speech on the value of high-fidelity simulation for "beyond operator training," i.e. for research, plant design support and enhanced classroom learning.
Nuclear Industry Summit Latin AmericaOn 16 March 2017, Michael Chatlani (L3 MAPPS vice president, marketing & sales) spoke to Latin America about enhancing nuclear knowledge and retention with L3 MAPPS' learning technologies, aimed at complementing passive training techniques with interactive/engaged learning. The presentation took place in Buenos Aires at the Nuclear Industry Summit Latin America. L3 MAPPS currently serves the region at the Embalse (Argentina), Angra (Brazil) and Laguna Verde (Mexico) sites with operator training simulator products and services. It was the first time L3 MAPPS' Learning Modules, System Knowledge Modules and Learning Simulators were introduced in Latin America.
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4-7 June 2017 Event 37th Annual CNS ConferenceLocation Niagara Falls, Ontario, CanadaOrganizer(s) Canadian Nuclear SocietyParticipate cns2017conference.org
11-15 June 2017 Event 10th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control and Human Machine Interface Technologies
Location San Francisco, California, USAOrganizer(s) American Nuclear SocietyParticipate npic-hmit2017.org
19-21 June 2017 Event IX International Forum ATOMEXPO Location Moscow, RussiaOrganizer(s) ROSATOMParticipate 2017.atomexpo.ru/eng
6-9 August 2017 Event Utility Working Conference and Vendor Technology Expo
Location Amelia Island, Florida, USAOrganizer(s) American Nuclear SocietyParticipate uwc.ans.org
2-4 October 2017 Event 6th European Nuclear Power Plant Simulation Forum
4-5 October 2017 Event 2017 Owners Circle™ ConferenceLocation Vienna, AustriaOrganizer(s) L3 MAPPSParticipate By invitation: for L 3 MAPPS product
owners/users
12 October 2017 Event OCNI/SNC-Lavalin Suppliers Day 2017Location Mississauga, Ontario, CanadaOrganizer(s) Organization of Canadian Nuclear
IndustriesParticipate ocni.ca/events/
8 November 2017 Event OCNI/Bruce Power Suppliers Day 2017Location Tiverton, Ontario, CanadaOrganizer(s) Organization of Canadian Nuclear
IndustriesParticipate ocni.ca/events/
13-14 November 2017 Event 2nd Annual Nuclear Plant Digitalization Conference
Location Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Organizer(s) Nuclear Energy InsiderParticipate nuclearenergyinsider.com/nuclear-plant-
digitalization/
The following are upcoming conferences, exhibitions and seminars where you can expect to meet with L3 MAPPS Power Systems and Simulation.
The following are upcoming conferences, exhibitions and seminars where you can expect to meet with L3 MAPPS Power Systems and Simulation.
5th China Nuclear Training & Simulation ForumL3 MAPPS was proud to be the main sponsor at NRG Events’ 5th China Nuclear Training & Simulation Forum in Shenzhen on 23-24 May 2017. L3 MAPPS presented four papers at the forum:
• A Meaningful NPP Simulator Journey with CGN
• Recent Rehost and Upgrade Project at Krško NPP, Slovenia
• Simulators for “Beyond Operator Training”
• Is Cyber Security a Concern for NPP Simulators?
Vincent Gagnon (L3 MAPPS director, marketing & sales) served as the chairperson for the forum.
OCNI/Ontario Power Generation Suppliers Day 2017L3 MAPPS was at the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industry’s 2017 Ontario Power Generation (OPG) Suppliers Day on 25 May 2017 in Pickering, Ontario. In parallel to the exhibition, a technical seminar was held at which our Bernhard Weiss (L3 MAPPS Power Systems and Simulation director) discussed innovative technologies to improve nuclear candidates learning. The event allowed us to talk with our colleagues at OPG. OPG produces almost half of Ontario’s electricity. OPG’s Darlington Nuclear Generating Station is currently being refurbished to permit clean, reliable, low-cost power for another 30 years and the company is preparing for the continued operation of Pickering Nuclear Generating Station until 2024.
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COORDINATOR & GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Sean Bradley
EDITOR
R&R International Translation Specialists Inc.
simnews would like to thank thisissue’s contributors:
ANTHEM, ANTHEM2000, AutoChart, Bruteforce, CARDs, Chorus, Comet, Comet Plus, Isis, jNet, Learning Module, Learning Simulator, Orchid, Owners Circle, ROSE, simnews, SimStudio, System Knowledge Module and Visual Simex are trademarks of L-3 Communications MAPPS Inc. All other products are trademarks of their respective companies.
lighterside
Technologies to Reduce the Learning Curve and Enhance Knowledge RetentionSeeing is understanding. Interacting helps recall. Introducing powerful hands-on, interactive training tools for power plant
equipment and systems training that achieve high student retention rates through experiential learning. Unlike the uncertainty
of traditional classroom learning, where students have to mentally picture how plant equipment and systems behave, college
instructors and plant operators can now empower students to run them, control them and get instant feedback on actions
taken — both inside and outside the classroom.
For more information on L3 MAPPS’ learning technologies, visit L3T.com/MAPPS or call us at +1 514 787-4999.
MAPPS L3T.com
ENHANCED LEARNING FORBETTER NUCLEAR PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT
