January-February 2019 NPJ

Successful Global Nuclear I&C Modernization By Romain Desgeorge and Bill Rosko, Rolls-Royce. Romain Desgeorge Romain is the Marketing and Communication Manager, for the nuclear I&C business of Rolls-Royce, based in Grenoble – France. He has 15-years of proven experience in the nuclear industry, with daily duties in defining products/services offers and building up strategical partnerships that can bring value to customers and to Rolls-Royce. Romain holds a Master in Marketing Engineering (IAE, University of Grenoble, France). Responses to questions by Newal Agnihotri, Editor of Nuclear Plant Journal. 1. What are Rolls-Royce’s latest innovations in terms of nuclear I&C technologies? For over 50 years, our highly skilled employees have successfully addressed many challenges to develop innovative, robust and reliable technologies to ensure the highest level of safety and operational performance in commercial nuclear power plants. In 1982, we developed and installed the first digital safety system in the world in Paluel plant, France. A first generation integrated digital protection system, which serves as the foundation for our current and world-leading safety I&C platform, Spinline ® . Today, we con- tinue to be at the fore- front of development of I&C technologies and implementing those technologies on a global basis. We recently devel- oped a new generation of non-programmed (hardwired) safety platform, Hardline TM , designed specifically to implement category A, B or C (IEC 61226) and class 1E nuclear safety or safety related I&C functions. Hard- line TM is the result of the evolution of previous non-programmed Rolls-Royce technologies, and is based on modern components, architecture, and nu- clear safety design processes. Hardline TM meets the demanding functional and safety requirements for non- programmed safety I&C systems employed in modern nuclear power plants (NPPs). This makes Hardline TM ideally suited for use both for new build Nuclear Power Plants and refurbishment of safety I&C systems in existing NPPs, including PWR, VVER, BWR reactors, research reactors and small modular reactors (SMR), for a variety of safety I&C applications including Diverse Reactor Protection System (DRPS), Actuator Priority Logic System (PLS), Backup or post-accident systems (PAMS/SAMS), Main Reactor Protection System (RPS) and Diverse I&C for Diesel generators. We also developed a new generation of Boron meter, using a surface sensor directly mounted on a pipe. This new system, using the Boronline ® technology, provides real-time primary circuit boron concentration data. This technology has been selected by EDF in France to equip 32 units of its 900MW nuclear fleet. 2. Which class IE systems are being upgraded worldwide by Rolls-Royce? Rolls-Royce is currently involved in the digital upgrade of safety-related I&C systems of 60 nuclear units worldwide. This includes mainly modernization of class 1E systems such as Reactor Protection Systems and Neutron Flux Monitoring Systems, and also non safety-related systems such as Rod Control Systems. In France, under EDF’s “Grand Carénage (Major re-fit)” industrial program, which aims to extend the operation of nuclear power plants across France beyond 40 years, Rolls-Royce is currently performing multiple safety I&C modernization projects. These projects concern the EDF’S 900MW fleet (34 units,) and 1300MW fleet (20 units). These renewals are similar in timing and scope to the subsequent license renewal activities currently taking place in the U.S. For the 1300MW fleet, Rolls-Royce is currently delivering digital technologies for the Reactor Protection System (RPS) and Neutron Instrumentation System (NIS) with Spinline ® technology and Rod Control System (RCS) with Rodline ® technology. For the 900MW fleet, Rolls-Royce is also currently modernizing the Neutron Instrumentation System, replacing existing analog system by a Spinline-based digital system, as well as the Rod Control System through the modification of specific parts (cycler, logic and power) of the system, as per customer requirements. In Finland, Rolls-Royce just completed the three phase I&C modernization of the two vintage 440- VVER reactors of Loviisa NPP, which involved replacing existing analogue I&C systems with digital safety I&C systems using Rolls-Royce digital Spinline ® technology. The scope of work for Rolls- Royce included design, licensing of the Spinline ® technology according to the requirements set by the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), installation and commissioning activities for six safety systems, including reactor protection, control and power limitations 26 NuclearPlantJournal.com Nuclear Plant Journal, January-February 2019