Montreal, Canada – L-3 MAPPS has announced that the Ling Ao Phase II nuclear power plant full scope simulator (FSS) is in service and being used to train operators. This is L-3 MAPPS’ first FSS for a new nuclear plant that is completely controlled by distributed control systems (DCSs).

In cooperation with AREVA and Siemens, L-3 MAPPS successfully delivered and installed the FSS in August 2009, following closely behind the full scope classroom simulator (CRS) for Ling Ao Phase II that was put into service in May 2009. Both simulators are situated at Daya Bay Nuclear Operations and Management’s new training facility in Da Peng, China.

“The recent installations at Ling Ao Phase II underscore our experience and determination in developing simulators for new plant builds,” said Michael Chatlani, vice-president of marketing and sales for L-3 MAPPS Power Systems and Simulation.

“Thanks to a fruitful cooperation between the partners, the full scope simulator was delivered to the customer to allow launching the training of its operators. This was a key goal pursued by the customer that has now been achieved,” said Alain Billet, vice president, instrumentation and control for France at AREVA NP. “The challenge is now to complete the reconciliation of the last version of the DCS data while keeping the FSS on duty for training purposes. Undoubtedly, with the continuous efforts from L-3 MAPPS and the other parties involved (AREVA, Siemens and the customer), this project will result in a major success.”

“We are very pleased with the new simulators which allow us to extend our operator training capabilities during the commissioning of the plant,” said Zhang Ruiqiong, vice chief engineer at China Nuclear Power Engineering Company (CNPEC). “The advanced simulation and DCS technology will also benefit us for overall plant and DCS design considerations going forward.”

Integrated with AREVA and Siemens-supplied DCSs, replica control room panels and stimulated human-machine interface, the FSS features L-3 MAPPS’ advanced instructor station capabilities and proven Windows-based graphical simulation environment providing advanced thermal-hydraulic, reactor, balance of plant, electrical and I&C models for the turbine control and other miscellaneous systems not controlled by the AREVA / Siemens DCSs. The safety systems’ DCS is AREVA’s Teleperm XS and the operational I&C system is Siemens’ SPPA-T2000 with OM690 human-machine interface.

The CRS is equivalent in scope to the FSS except the back-up panels are replaced with L-3 MAPPS’ large screen ‘touch’ virtual panels. The CRS will continue to be used for testing the modeled plant responses to transients and verifying plant operating procedures concurrently while the plant is being commissioned. As the simulator configurations evolve on the CRS platform, the FSS will be updated accordingly to provide added functionality to expand operator training.

The Ling Ao Phase II nuclear plant, owned by Ling Dong Nuclear Power, comprises the first two CPR1000 generating units that will be put into service, scheduled to go on-line in 2010. The CPR1000 is a Chinese standard design featuring a 1,080MW three-loop pressurized water reactor (PWR), whose design is coordinated by CNPEC.