Taishan EPR simulator commissioned

Tuesday, 25 November 2014

The training of staff to operate the two EPR units under construction at Taishan in China can now start following the commissioning of a full-scope simulator there.

The Taishan EPR simulator (Image: CORYS)

The EPR simulator for Taishan was supplied by CORYS - a joint venture between Areva and EDF - under a contract awarded in November 2009. Installation of the simulator was completed in June and it was put into service on 26 September. It has now been successfully commissioned and is "ready for training," CORYS announced.

CORYS said the Taishan EPR full-scope simulator - which will be used to training some 100 operators for the two units - has introduced some significant technology innovations. These include plant models developed in CORY's ALICES toolset, use of engineering-graded simulation codes, emulation of safety and operation instrumentation and control (I&C), simulation of the computerized operator stations, and compact input/output systems to interface with the control room back-up panels.

Areva said that the commissioning of the simulator "marks an important milestone for the project as the plant's staff will now start training to prepare the plant's commissioning and operation phases."

Simulators are a vital piece of equipment for training plant operators, both at the start of their careers and for their continuing training. The Taishan simulator features a complete replica of an EPR control room, including the instrumentation and control system.

Two EPR reactors are under construction at Taishan in Guangdong province. Taishan 1, which has been under construction since 2009, is expected to start up in 2016, while Taishan 2 is scheduled to begin operating a year later.

EPRs are also under construction at Flamanville in France and Olkiluoto in Finland. These units are expected to start up in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

CORYS has also supplied the full scope simulator for the Flamanville EPR, while that for the Olkiluoto unit was supplied by Canada based L-3 MAPPS.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News