L-3 MAPPS to update Hongyanhe simulator

Canada's L-3 MAPPS has signed a service contract to update the reactor core model on the full-scope simulator for Phase I of the Hongyanhe nuclear power plant in China's Liaoning province. The company originally supplied the simulator under a contract signed in 2007.

Canada's L-3 MAPPS has signed a service contract to update the reactor core model on the full-scope simulator for Phase I of the Hongyanhe nuclear power plant in China's Liaoning province. The company originally supplied the simulator under a contract signed in 2007.

The full-scope simulator of Hongyanhe Phase I (Image: L-3 MAPPS)

L-3 MAPPS said work under the contract with Liaoning Hongyanhe Nuclear Power (LHNP) will start immediately and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

The simulator's fuel cycle data will be updated to the latest plant data using L-3's Orchid Core Builder, the company said. The updated Comet Plus reactor model will support an 18-month refueling cycle to reflect the upgraded refueling cycle undertaken at the plant.

Construction of Phase I of the Hongyanhe plant, comprising four CPR-1000 pressurized water reactors, began in August 2009. Units 1 and 2 have been in commercial operation since June 2013 and May 2014, respectively, while units 3 and 4 entered commercial operation in August 2015 and April 2016.

L-3 MAPPS received an order from Japan's Mitsubishi Electric Corporation in August 2007 to supply a full-scale simulator for the first two Hongyanhe units. The simulator was delivered by Mitsubishi as part of a larger package - the CPR-1000 Extension Project Digital Control Systems (DCS). Mitsubishi provided am emulation of the safety DCS for the simulator and L-3 translated the non-safety system for used on the simulator. Under a July 2009 contract, L-3 MAPPS developed a second pair of simulators for Hongyanhe units 3 and 4.

L-3 MAPPS vice president of marketing and sales Michael Chatlani said, "We are pleased to have another opportunity to support our colleagues at Hongyanhe. L-3 MAPPS is proud to offer the capabilities of our robust Orchid technology being used to develop and maintain the Hongyanhe Phase I simulator, and we look forward to further opportunities to work together with LHNP."

Simulators are a vital piece of equipment for plant operators, both at the start of their careers and for their continued training.

The construction of Phase II of the Hongyanhe plant - units 5 and 6 - was approved last year and building work started in March and July 2015, respectively. These units - featuring 1080 MWe China General Nuclear-designed ACPR1000 reactors - are scheduled to begin operating in 2019 and 2020.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News