Arizona Public Service (APS) has issued a purchase order to Westinghouse Nuclear Automation to replace the core protection calculator (CPC) systems at all three units of the Palo Verde plant. The replacement CPC systems will utilise Westinghouse’s generically qualified safety platform (Advant AC160) referred to as “Common Q”.
Senior vice president for Westinghouse Nuclear Automation Michael P. Comiskey said: “The APS award represents Westinghouse’s first domestic order using Common Q in a Class 1E protection system application. This is significant as nuclear utilities require a proven, qualified and NRC-licensed product for nuclear safety systems.” The CPC systems protect the integrity of Palo Verde’s nuclear fuel by tripping the reactor if fuel design limits are being approached.
The installation will be carried out during Palo Verde refuelling outages in 2003 and 2004.
