Westinghouse contract will update nuclear facility

Westinghouse Electric Co. and Southern Nuclear Operating Co. recently signed an instrumentation and control (I&C) modernization contract with for new Digital Rod Position Indication (DRPI) Advanced Display Systems (DADS).

The contract includes upgrades to the four main control-room simulators and four of the existing DRPI and plant computer systems on each unit at the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant and Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant.

Upgrades will provide more accurate and reliable rod position and system information and allow for integrated and automatic rod drop testing.

“Westinghouse has developed sophisticated diagnostics and algorithms that enhance plant safety and reliability, thereby reducing schedule impacts and maintenance costs,” David Howell, of Americas Operating Plant Services Business Unit president, said. “We applaud Southern Nuclear’s leadership in taking this step to modernize their I&C systems so they can continue to provide consumers with clean, reliable energy.”

Work is scheduled to being in the spring.

Westinghouse I&C experts in the Engineered Systems and Solutions organization and Outage Maintenance and Services and the Plant Auto and Monitoring Systems team will perform product design and installation.

Westinghouse supplied the world’s first commercial pressurized water reactor in 1957 in Shippingport and today supplies technology for approximately half of the world’s operating nuclear plants.