US-based Westinghouse Electric Company has signed an instrumentation and control (I&C) modernisation contract with Southern Nuclear Operating Company for new Digital Rod Position Indication (DRPI) Advanced Display Systems (DADS).
These first-of-their-kind US installations will be implemented at both Farley and the Vogtle, with work scheduled to begin at Farley’s first unit in spring 2021.
“Westinghouse has developed sophisticated diagnostics and algorithms that enhance plant safety and reliability, thereby reducing schedule impacts and maintenance costs,” said David Howell, president, Americas Operating Plant Services Business Unit.
The contract includes upgrades to all four of the existing DRPI and plant computer systems on each unit in the plants, as well as the four main control room simulators. These upgrades will allow for integrated and automatic rod drop testing and provide more reliable and accurate rod position and system information. Westinghouse said its DADS solution maintains the fit and function of the earlier design, allowing installation to be completed in as little as a few hours.
The product design and installation will be performed by Westinghouse I&C experts in the Engineered Systems and Solutions organisation and Outage Maintenance and Services, as well as the new Plant Auto and Monitoring Systems (PAMS) team based in Huntsville, Alabama. The PAMS team recently joined Westinghouse as part of the acquisition of Rolls-Royce’s Civil Nuclear Systems and Services.
