UK-based technology company Servelec Controls has been chosen to design, implement and commission new drive systems at EDF Energy's Torness and Heysham nuclear power plants.

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UK-based technology company Servelec Controls has been chosen to design, implement and commission new drive systems at EDF Energy’s Torness and Heysham nuclear power plants.

The scope of the work includes upgrading the fuelling machine with a hoist drive system at Torness and Heysham 2, and also replacement of an ageing stepper motor and gearbox that is used to control the speed of the boiler feed pump at Torness.

"The existing control systems date from the 1980s and are coming to the end of their operating life," says Servelec.

The new drive cubicles for the fuelling machines at both sites will be designed and manufactured to ‘offer drop-in replacements to the existing units’ and will include further enhancements to improve all aspects of control and maintainability, says Servelec. The solutions will use Siemens Sinamics DCM VSD.

At Torness, Servelec will also replace a stepper motor and gear box arrangement with a modern servo drive and linear actuator, which will control the speed of the boiler feed pump using a Siemens S110 safety rated positioning drive.

Torness and Heysham 2 are both twin-unit (2x680MW) advanced gas-cooled reactors, which started operations in the late 1980s. They are currently due to shut down in 2023, although life extensions are anticipated.


Photo: Torness (Source EDF Energy)