L-3 MAPPS awarded contract for Korean Candu simulator

Canada's L-3 MAPPS is to supply a full-scope training simulator for the Wolsong 1 Candu pressurized heavy water reactor in South Korea under a contract signed with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power. It will mark L-3's first implementation of severe accident simulation for Candu plants.

Canada's L-3 MAPPS is to supply a full-scope training simulator for the Wolsong 1 Candu pressurized heavy water reactor in South Korea under a contract signed with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP). It will mark L-3's first implementation of severe accident simulation for Candu plants.

The four Candu units at the Wolsong plant (Image: KHNP)

The simulator will use L-3's graphical simulation tools for the plant models and instructor station. All of the Wolsong 1 plant systems will be simulated, including the reactor, nuclear steam supply systems, balance of plant systems, electrical systems, and instrumentation and control systems. The simulator's models will be developed, validated and maintained in L-3's Orchid simulation environment. Wolsong 1's computer systems - the digital control computers (DCCs) - will be represented by a fully emulated dual DCC that will be integrated in the full-scope simulator. The simulator will be equipped with full replica control room panels driven by L-3's Orchid Input Output software and a new compact input/output system.

L-3 MAPPS said the new plant models used in the Wolsong 1 simulator will also be complemented with severe accident simulation capabilities. The company said it marks the first time L-3 MAPPS has implemented severe accident simulation for Candu plants. It said the simulator will also be equipped with new two-dimensional and three-dimensional animated, interactive visualizations of the reactor vessel and containment building to provide trainees further insight into the behaviour of the plant during severe accidents.

L-3 MAPPS said the project will start immediately and the simulator is scheduled to be completed in early 2018. The value of the contract was not disclosed.

Michael Chatlani, vice president of marketing and sales for L-3 MAPPS's power systems and simulation business, said: "In addition to our recent simulator projects at Embalse and Cernavoda, the work on Wolsong 1 further aligns L-3 to offer best-in-class simulator solutions for new Candu build programs, especially in Argentina, China and Romania."

The Wolsong site in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, houses four 700 MWe Candu reactors. L-3 MAPPS supplied the full-scope operator training simulator for Wolsong units 2, 3 and 4. Simulators are a vital piece of equipment for training plant operators, both at the start of their careers and for their continuing training.

Wolsong 1 - the country's second-oldest power reactor - began generating power in 1983 but was taken out of operation in April 2009 for an extended maintenance outage that included replacement of all its pressure tubes and calandria tubes. Candu reactors are designed to undergo refurbishment after about 25 years of operation, requiring a major outage but allowing reactor life to be extended by up to 30 years. For all Candu reactors, this involves complete retubing. The reactor came back into operation in July 2011 with its performance raised from 629 MWe to 657 MWe.

However, the 30-year operating licence of Wolsong 1 expired in November 2012, so the reactor was taken offline again. In February 2015, Korea's Nuclear Safety and Security Commission approved a ten-year licence extension until November 2022 for the refurbished and uprated Wolsong 1 reactor. The unit returned to service in June 2015.

Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, L-3 MAPPS supplies control and simulation solutions to the marine, power generation and space sectors. As well as supplying full-scale simulators for most manufacturer's nuclear power plants, the company has also supplied digital computer control systems for Candu plants since 1970.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News