Page 26 - Nuclear Plant Journal Digital Edition: January - February 2013
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26
Nuclear Plant Journal, January-February 2013
We are also working closely with
EDF for some part of the electronic for
their post Fukushima requirements andwe
are also investigating and working more
and more closely with other operators
in Central & Eastern Europe, in Western
Europe, and hopefully, in Asia.
3.
What are Rolls-Royce’s Research
and Development efforts?
We develop technologies and
intellectual property that allow us to
compete on a global basis in highly
competitive markets.
The group invested £923M ($1.4
billion) in R&D last year, £8B ($12.6
billion) in the last 10 years. We have
partnerships
with
28
University
technology centers worldwide.
For I&C, we design and manufacture
solutions that provide safety and
performance through technology and
long-term support.
Our main focus is on increasing the
plant safety and availability, as well as the
operational flexibility.
Our R&D is focused on programs
that enhance the safety and performance
of the nuclear plants, while satisfying
current safety requirements.
For example, in recent years, we
have developed new technologies for
Rod Control System – Rodline – and
for Boron Meter – Boronline. These two
technologies simplify the operation and
the maintenance while improving the
overall availability of the plant.
R&D is crucial in order to develop
new technologies and applications that
address market needs.
4.
How does Rolls-Royce ensure client
satisfaction through plant safety?
Since the 1970s, we have designed,
manufactured and installed safety critical
instrumentation and I&C systems for
many nuclear reactors worldwide.
For 40 years, we have been supporting
nuclear utilities to ensure the long term
operation of their reactors.
We are involved in partial retrofit
project and global retrofit programmes.
For example, at the end of 2011, we
were awarded a contract to supply safety
I&C technologies and systems for the
French nuclear reactor modernization
programme. Since the late 1970s, Rolls-
Royce has supplied the digital reactor
protection system, the digital neutron
instrumentation system and the rod
control system, and has ensured their
safety and availability.
We will provide the I&C technology
for the reactor protection system and the
nuclear instrumentation system, each
underpinned by Rolls-Royce Spinline™
technology. This 14-year project will
ensure that the reactor fleet continues to
meet safety and licensing requirements
through the deployment of the latest I&C
technologies, systems and components
provided by Rolls-Royce.
We also offer a long term support
solutions package ensuring long
term operation of our solutions. For
example, we work closely with EDF on
a partnership programme known as the
Perennite Programme, which recognizes
the importance of maintaining a level of
skills and knowledge base over a period
of at least 25 years. Rolls-Royce works
in a similar manner on long-term support
programmes with customers in China and
Czech Republic to ensure the long-term
operation of its solutions.
We have also a strong and proven
experience of working closely with
Safety Authorities through Operators
to prove to the safety authority that our
safety critical solutions meet the local
safety requirements.
5.
How did Rolls-Royce get involved
in the current Commercial Nuclear
Business?
Rolls-Royce provides nuclear power
utility vendors and operators with inte-
grated, long-term solutions and support
services spanning the whole reactor life-
cycle, from concept design through to
obsolescence management and plant life
extension. With nuclear expertise, includ-
ing component manufacturing, licensing,
project and supply chain management as
well as world class engineering, the com-
pany has been a key player in the industry
for over 50 years.
For Instrumentation and Control, the
entity based in France was created in the
sixties, at the start of the French nuclear
program. The company was established
to develop the Safety I&C systems of
reactors. In the US, our Huntsville,
Alabama Center of excellence is focused
on Plant Process computers and Cyber
Security, providing its solutions to half
of the US Nuclear Power Stations and
abroad.
The I&C business of Rolls-Royce
was a part of the group Merlin Gerin,
a making and a distributor of electric
equipment. Then, this entity became
Schenider Electric followed by Data
Systems & Solutions (DS&S), which was
awholly owned subsidiary of Rolls-Royce
plc. In 2009, Rolls-Royce integrated this
business to its Civil Nuclear sector.
So we’ve moved from French
footprint to a more global footprint, step
by step. Now we are 100% Rolls-Royce.
6.
Concluding remarks
.
We are an independent supplier of
I&C solutions and a partner to industry.
Our primary goal is to provide the
highest value to our customers in terms
of safety, quality and delivery.
Contact: Romain Desgeorge, Rolls-
Royce, 23 Chemin du vieux chene, 38240
Meylan, France; telephone: 33 4 76 61 16
17, email: romain.desgeorge.cn@rolls-
royce.com.
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