L-3 MAPPS announced today that it has obtained an order from Eskom Holdings to modify the Koeberg operator training simulator to support the interface of new OPC XML-compliant* devices via Ethernet. In recent years, the OPC XML specification has gained increasing support in the field of industrial automation. With new applications in the power generation industry, OPC XML could soon play a major role in the communication interfaces of the future.
As part of ongoing upgrades at Koeberg Power Station, Eskom is replacing the rod control display system with Siemens MP277 touch-screen flat-panel displays configured as OPC hosts. To accommodate the inclusion of identical flat-panel displays on the simulator, Eskom has engaged L-3 MAPPS to configure the simulator with OPC XML connectivity.
L-3 MAPPS completed a previous upgrade on the Koeberg simulator in May 2004, which involved updating the simulation server and replacing the reactor coolant system, reactor coolant pump, pressurizer, pressurizer relief tank and steam generator models.
Eskom Holdings generates, transports and distributes approximately 95% of South Africa’s electricity, making up 60% of the total electricity consumed on the African continent. Eskom is the world’s eleventh-largest power utility in terms of generating capacity, ranks ninth in terms of sales, and boasts the world’s largest dry-cooling power station. Koeberg Power Station is the only nuclear power station on the African continent. It is situated at Duynefontein, 30km northwest of Cape Town in South Africa on the Atlantic coast. Koeberg, with two pressurized water reactor units that supply 1,800 megawatts, ensures a reliable supply of electricity to the Western Cape, one of the fastest growing regions in South Africa. It has operated safely and efficiently for more than 21 years and has a further active life of 20 to 30 years.
* OPC stands for OLE for Process Control and is a uniform, multi-vendor software interface based on Internet standards. XML is an acronym for Extensible Markup Language. XML is a general-purpose specification for creating custom markup languages and allows its users to define their own elements. Its main purpose is to facilitate sharing of structured data across different systems, particularly via the Internet.
L-3 MAPPS has over 20 years of experience in pioneering technological advances in the marine automation field and over 30 years of experience in delivering high-fidelity power plant simulation to leading utilities worldwide. In addition, the company has more than three decades of expertise in supplying plant computer systems for Canadian heavy water reactors. L-3 MAPPS also provides targeted controls and simulation solutions to the space sector.
To learn more about L-3 MAPPS, please visit the company’s Web site at www.L-3Com.com/mapps.
Headquartered in New York City, L-3 Communications employs over 64,000 people worldwide and is a prime contractor in aircraft modernization and maintenance, C3ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) systems and government services. L-3 is also a leading provider of high technology products, subsystems and systems. The company reported 2007 sales of $14 billion.