POWER February 2011 - 36
INSTRUMENTATION & CONTROL
I&C Update on Plant Vogtle
Units 3 and 4
Development of Vogtle Electric Generating Station Units 3 and 4-the first new
nuclear power plant units in the U.S. in decades-has generated considerable
excitement. The next generation of nuclear plants, represented by
these units, includes at least two major improvements: the use of passive
safety systems and a reliance on digital control systems. The latter
represents a gigantic leap in modernization and a fundamental change in
control of the plant.
By James H. Flowers, Southern Nuclear Operating Co.
W
orking out of a small city of trailers,
more than 1,500 employees
are busy bringing life to Southern
Nuclear Operating Co.'s Units 3 and
4 of Vogtle Electric Generating Station
(Plant Vogtle), located approximately 45
minutes south of Augusta, Georgia. Earthmoving
equipment travels in a continuous
line around two large excavations that will
hold the foundations of these two new units
(Figure 1), and erection of the modular assembly
building is in progress (Figure 2).
At the same time, staff are busy finalizing
the Westinghouse Advanced Passive (AP)
1000 design and its instrumentation and
control (I&C) systems.
As with any major endeavor, in addition
to the excitement there are also challenges.
This article provides information about the
progress and special concerns related to the
I&C design for Vogtle Units 3 and 4.
Developing a Setpoint Control
Program
The handling of setpoints (the target values
that a protection control system responds to)
has raised several questions for new plants.
However, the area that has received the most
attention so far is the removal of setpoints
from the Technical Specifications in the
Technical Specification Traveler Form 493
(TSTF-493), which relocates trip setpoints to
a licensee-controlled program.
The TSTF allows the Limiting Trip Setpoint,
the Nominal Trip Setpoint, and/or
the allowable values to be relocated to a licensee's
setpoint control program. Combined
construction and operating license (COL) applicants
or licensees will describe their facilities'
setpoint control programs in Section 5.0
of the Technical Specifications, which details
the " Administrative Controls. " This section
also will contain a reference to the licensee's
or COL applicant's setpoint methodology,
36
www.powermag.com
POWER | February 2011
2. On the rise: next-generation nuclear plants. Construction crews are shown
erecting the Modular Assembly Building, which will be used to produce modular assemblies
during construction of Vogtle Units 3 and 4. Vogtle Units 1 and 2 are in the background. Courtesy:
Southern Company
1. Southern powerhouse. Excavation for the foundations of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 is
in progress. The two new units are the first to be constructed in the U.S. in decades. Courtesy:
Southern Company
http://www.powermag.com
POWER February 2011
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of POWER February 2011
Contents
POWER February 2011 - Cover1
POWER February 2011 - Cover2
POWER February 2011 - Contents
POWER February 2011 - 2
POWER February 2011 - 3
POWER February 2011 - 4
POWER February 2011 - 5
POWER February 2011 - 6
POWER February 2011 - 7
POWER February 2011 - 8
POWER February 2011 - 9
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POWER February 2011 - Cover3
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