Cooper nuclear station to use Invensys feedwater-control systems

By Control Engineering Staff October 5, 2005

Nebraska Public Power District’s (NPPD) Cooper Station will use Triconex technology for feedwater turbine controls. Simulation for the control system checkout will be accomplished using SimSci-Esscor software. NPPD will also employ a new operator interface based on Wonderware InTouch human-machine interface software.

Invensys upgrades are being implemented to replace controls associated with plant tripping, and for expansion of an existing control system. The 778-megawatt power plant is studying the possibility of an upgrade and has initiated the process of renewing its operating license, similar to a number of nuclear power stations in the U.S. built in the 1970s.

Implementation will include Triconex, triple-modular redundant control-systems for each of the plant’s two, turbine-driven main-feedwater pumps. This technology will also be used for expanded feedwater control functions in the Reactor Vessel Level Control System, awarded to Invensys last year.

To support control system checkout prior to commissioning, TRISIM Plus software from SimSci-Esscor will be employed to exactly model the Triconex control architecture.

The new feedwater controls operator interface will be based on InTouch HMI software from Wonderware .

—Control Engineering
Richard Phelps, senior editor, richard.phelps@reedbusiness.com