New nuclear power plants in China to be fully digital
Two dual-unit installations will use IPS platforms for critical control and safety systems.
Beijing, China – Given high levels of air pollution, China is depending on nuclear power to break its dependence on coal for its growing electrical needs. To raise production, it is constructing new nuclear plants that will use state-of-the-art digital control and safety technology.
The Fuqing and Fangjiashan nuclear power projects are located in Fuijan and Zhejiang provinces, respectively. Under the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), the two projects, each of which will have two, 1,000 MW units, will be designed and built by China Nuclear Power Engineering Corporation (CNPE), with design support from China Nuclear Power Operation Technology Corporation (CNPO).
CNPE has chosen Invensys Process Systems (IPS) , to develop and supply the four large-scale, fully digitized nuclear control rooms, equipped with the latest simulation technologies, critical control, and safety systems. The agreement is worth approximately $250 million.
IPS says it will provide an integrated technology platform for both safety (1E) and control systems, using its Triconex and Foxboro I/A Series products. The project also includes an advanced reactor protection system (RPS) using functional software and hardware diversity.
“The evaluation committee conducted a long and extensive evaluation process with extremely stringent criteria and we are glad to have selected IPS as our long-term, key technology partner,” says a spokesperson for the evaluation committee. “During the evaluation process, IPS demonstrated global expertise that China can tap into as we accelerate our technology transfer program. In summary, they ranked high in all the key factors we look for in a long-term strategic technology partner.”
Ulf Henriksson, chief executive officer of Invensys adds, “We are pleased to enter into this strategic relationship with China and to partner with CNPE to help increase China’s capacity for clean power generation. We are confident this long-term partnership will contribute to the timely deployment of the new digitized nuclear power plants in China. We will utilize an integrated solution that combines our deep industry knowledge and our leading safety and control systems to create a safe, reliable and efficient nuclear power capability for China.”
IPS and its predecessor companies has been a supplier to the global nuclear industry for more than 50 years. The company names 60% of the world’s top 50 performing nuclear power plants as its customers, and supplies control systems to more than 100 of the approximately 440 operating nuclear plants worldwide.
Also read: Do nuclear reactors have to be large to be practical or efficient?
Edited by Peter Welander, process industries editor Control Engineering News Desk Register here and scroll down to select your choice of free eNewsletters .
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