Bruce simulator upgrade completed

Units 2 and 3 of the Bruce A nuclear power plant will have state-of-the-art reactor simulators after the completion of upgrade work. The project is the first Candu simulator upgrade to be carried out by GSE Systems. 

Reactor simulators are used to train nuclear plant operators throughout their careers, so it is important that they provide accurate, realistic simulations that predict plant performance under as many conditions as possible. The upgrade at the Bruce units included replacement of the simulator's primary heat transport and boiler systems, reactor core model and sub-channel thermohydraulic model with improved systems. The calandria, maintenance cooling, and related systems were also replaced.

The upgraded simulator underwent a range of tests including startup, shutdown, transients, malfunctions and emergency tests. GSE also supported plant operator Bruce Power in preparing training scenarios.

Bruce Power section manager Cynthia Mercanti explained that the upgrades had overcome technical deficiencies in the previous systems. "The new simulators enable our operators to train in new scenarios that did not exist prior to the upgrade," she said.

GSE has been building full-scope commercial nuclear power plant simulators since 1971, but the project was the first simulator upgrade for a Candu reactor for the US-based company.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News