L-3 MAPPS has received an order from AmerenUE to enhance the Callaway nuclear plant simulator with its Orchid® suite of software tools. In 2008, L-3 successfully replaced the simulator’s reactor core model with a higher fidelity version generated by its Orchid Core Builder software. Work will begin immediately to upgrade the simulator, which is slated to enter service in early 2010.
“AmerenUE has worked closely with L-3 for ten years, implementing incremental upgrades and addressing software needs,” said Matt Hall, nuclear generation superintendant at the Callaway plant. “With this new order, we are confident that L-3 will assist us in bringing our simulator to best-in-class status.”
“We are pleased that our long relationship with AmerenUE has resulted in a major simulator modernization project,” said Michael Chatlani, vice president of marketing and sales for L-3 MAPPS Power Systems and Simulation. “We remain committed to satisfying AmerenUE’s high expectations.”
The upgrade project is intended to improve the simulator’s performance while standardizing the simulation environment and toolset for improved maintainability. The Callaway simulator is currently made up of plant models delivered by the original simulator vendor and models developed with L-3 software tools by L-3 MAPPS and AmerenUE engineers. The legacy models will be replaced with Orchid Modeling Environment-based models, while the high-fidelity models already upgraded to L-3 MAPPS’ ROSE® simulation environment will be upgraded to function in the Orchid Modeling Environment. The legacy models being replaced are largely electrical systems, and control logic for all plant systems, auxiliary process systems, the standby diesel generator and containment systems. In addition, the L-3 MAPPS-provided simulator executive, configuration manager and instructor station will be updated to the Orchid Simulator Executive, Orchid Configuration Manager and Orchid Instructor Station.
AmerenUE, a subsidiary of St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation, is Missouri’s largest electric utility, serving 1.2 million customers in central and eastern Missouri, including the St. Louis area. The Callaway nuclear plant, which produces about 20% of AmerenUE’s power, has consistently been an industry leader in both safety and performance. The plant’s average annual net generation of 8.9 billion kW-hrs is equal to the amount of electricity used annually by more than 750,000 average households. Ameren Corporation is among the United States’ largest investor-owned electric and gas utilities.
L-3 MAPPS, a division of the L-3 Marine and Power Systems group, has over 25 years of experience in pioneering technological advances in the marine automation field and over 35 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.
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 2008 sales of $14.9 billion.
To learn more about L-3 MAPPS or L-3, please visit the company’s website.