L-3 MAPPS announced today that it participated in the official opening of EDF Energy’s upgraded Sizewell B plant training simulator on January 21, 2016 in Suffolk, U.K. The ceremony was attended by numerous EDF Energy representatives, including Jim Crawford, Sizewell B station director. L-3 MAPPS’ team was led by Michael Chatlani, vice president of marketing & sales.
EDF Energy’s Jim Crawford said, "Working with L-3 MAPPS, we have been able to embrace new technology to further enhance our nuclear training program here at Sizewell B."
"We have consistently achieved excellent results at Sizewell B, Hartlepool, Heysham 1 and Hinkley Point B, and are so happy to have had this opportunity to upgrade the Sizewell B simulator," said L-3’s Michael Chatlani. "Sizewell B has always been a special site to L-3 MAPPS as it gave us our first significant entry into the U.K.’s power generation sector and fueled years of further in-country successes."
"L-3 has been especially fortunate to enjoy an outstanding working relationship with our colleagues at Sizewell B over the last 15 years – the phenomenal teamwork between our two companies has resulted in another world-class simulator solution at Sizewell B," he added.
The previous UNIX operating system-based simulator was replaced with new PC / Windows-based computers running L-3’s trailblazing Orchid® simulation environment. The reactor core model was upgraded with Orchid Core Builder to provide the higher-fidelity Comet Plus™ model and improved 2-D and 3-D visualisation of the core parameters in runtime. The simulator’s containment model was also upgraded in Orchid Modeling Environment.
The enhanced simulator is equipped with new cameras and microphones to record training sessions using Orchid Multimedia Manager, which is fully synchronized with Orchid Instructor Station. The upgraded simulator also includes Orchid Sound System to generate control room sounds depending on the simulator scenario.
L-3 MAPPS additionally provided six Orchid Touch Interface classroom simulators to be used by the plant operators or other plant personnel to become familiar with the plant control room and its operation.
Other deliverables included a 3-D PWR Learning Simulator for training on plant transients, as well as 3-D Learning Modules for fundamentals training with various components, including pumps, valves, heat exchangers, etc. To enhance systems training for plant technicians, L-3 MAPPS also delivered a series of System Knowledge Modules – smaller-scale simulations focused on specific areas of the plant.