GSE Systems agrees to build simulator for Ukrainian nuclear plant

Columbia, MD – GSE Systems Inc . and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory announced Aug. 14 an agreement to build a $9-million, full-scope simulator for Unit 3 of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Station in eastern Ukraine.

The project’s contract is administered through Battelle’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) International Nuclear Safety Program. The value of the contract exceeds $9 million and will take approximately 30 months to complete. GSE is a provider of real-time simulation and process control solutions for the energy and process industries.

Zaporizhzhya NPP (ZNPP) operates six 1,000-Megawatt nuclear power plants, and is reportedly the world’s largest power facility. This is the third full-scope simulator for the site, and it represents the specific design and operating characteristics of Unit 3. GSE has already built simulators for ZNPP Units 1 and 5. This latest simulator will be used to provide operators with initial training and with refresher training in all phases of normal, abnormal and emergency operations.

This project is a continuation of DOE’s efforts to improve the safety of Russian-designed power plants. The simulators have helped plant operators avoid dangerous operating conditions, as well as unplanned plant shutdowns.

GSE will use its local partners in developing the simulator, including Ukraine-based Energotraining and the Engineering Technical Center (ETC), as well as the Russia-based All Russian Institute for Nuclear Power Operations (VNIIAES).

Control Engineering Daily News Desk
Jim Montague, news editor
jmontague@reedbusiness.com

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