| Power plant products Stainless steel for Hinkley Point C


Framatome Ltd’s facility in Avonmouth, UK, is a manufacturing and welding centre of excellence that specialises in the cutting, forming, and welding of stainless steel for a range of purposes. The facility has been in operation since May 2021. It has now begun manufacturing a selection of high-quality components for the nuclear industry. Currently this includes all the stainless-steel components for the nuclear power station Hinkley Point C, under construction in the


west of England, and will soon be carrying out similar work at Sizewell C.


Two IRWST (in-containment refuelling water storage tank) pools were successfully delivered to HPC in May. The specialised components manufactured by Framatome include stainless steel pools, tanks, and liners for EPR reactors. The facility has the capability to implement multiple methods of manufacturing and assembly including full modular solutions and


pipe manufacture. Welding is at the core of these manufacturing processes and therefore Framatome Ltd has developed a workforce competent in multiple processes including TIG, MAG (manual and semi-automatic), S-MAG and stud welding with a ceramic ferrule. The facility benefits from a 400 tonne, 4-metre hydraulic synchronised Press Brake, one of the largest in the UK, that is predominantly assigned to the folding of critical components.


5G network enables digital transformation of Yangjiang NPP


In 2023, China’s electricity generation from nuclear power plants reached 433.371 billion kWh, accounting for 4.86% of China’s total energy yield. 12.3 % of that was contributed by the Yangjiang NPP.


For nuclear power plants, security and quality are the top priority. To develop new forms of productivity, Yangjiang Nuclear Power faces three main areas of concern: difficult collaboration in production, difficult overhaul management and control, and difficult device monitoring. To address these issues and meet the core requirements of security and performance improvement, Yangjiang Nuclear Power has decided to carry out a digital transformation. Yangjiang, China Telecom, and Huawei have jointly built a 5G converged private network that integrates data, voice, SMS, trunking, and narrow– band communications capabilities. This move has produced many efficiency benefits. The 5G network runs independently and is always connected. A new network architecture has been designed with dedicated base stations, multi-frequency networking, and a full set of 5GC active-active solutions. The company’s satellite communications and existing communications systems are also integrated to offer an always–


connected network for multiple purposes, including ensuring the security of nuclear power production.


New technologies such as 5G-A positioning and RedCap are used to support high-precision positioning of personnel, and data and video communications with low power consumption. The communications network adapts to complex environments such as radiation areas, confined spaces, and coastal areas of the nuclear power plant. New devices and techniques are used to test the radiation, vibration, and wind resistance as well as electromagnetic compatibility of devices and upgrade them. These help resolve data communications issues in nuclear power environments.


The 5G network covers six generator sets, over 10 000 personnel, and over 10 000 terminals. Since its deployment, it has significantly enhanced the digital capability of Yangjiang Nuclear Power, facilitating its intrinsic security and improving its performance.


The digital and intelligent upgrade of the production chain has improved efficiency. Over 1700 mobile terminals have been deployed in the paperless office, avoiding the manual pasting of over 700 000 labels and the associated risk of


error. Mobile operations have reduced labour hours by 2150. Collaborative operations removed 55 co-ordination engineering positions. AI-based supervision helped identify over 200 operation risks and non-standard devices over 50 times. Real-time interconnection for overhaul improves quality of the processes and ensures security. The decision-making efficiency has been improved by 21.4% through 5G and AI. Real-time radiation dose measurement for individuals is the first trial in China, and has already helped on at least 10 occasions to identify people with health risks. The project aims to build the first benchmark for intelligent nuclear power construction empowered by 5G technologies in China, and establish a nuclear power system that focuses on security, reliability, green and efficient development, intelligent economy, and the digital future.


DOE-funded GRIP project to enhance grid resilience


Following the US Department of Energy’s project selections in October, Smart Wires’ advanced power flow control SmartValve will be used in Avista Utilities’ and Idaho Power’s project funded under the second round of the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program. The project will reconstruct a 230 kV transmission line and deploy SmartValves to dynamically control power flows, optimising the newly–rebuilt as well as three other transmission lines. The project aims to increase interregional transfer capability between the Pacific Northwest and Mountain regions through innovative


construction approaches and power electronics to optimise use of the transmission system. The Lolo-Oxbow 230 kV transmission line will be reconstructed with wildfire-resilient designs and materials, and SmartValves will be deployed to balance flows across nearby transmission lines and ensure full utilisation of the rebuilt line. This approach limits construction work to a single 230 kV line rather than rebuilding or reconductoring multiple lines.


The Advanced Power Flow Control solution unlocks spare capacity during line reconstruction and enables the system operator to fully utilise


the rebuilt line, significantly increasing the transfer capacity between states. The project will improve resilience and reliability while increasing interregional transfer capacity by approximately 635 MW. It will also enable the Nez Perce Tribe to connect generation interconnection capacity for renewable resources on their reservation.


Th SmartValve solution injects a voltage in quadrature with the line current to synthesize either a capacitive or inductive reactance, enabling it to push power off overloaded lines or pull power onto underutilised lines.


www.modernpowersystems.com | November/December 2024 | 41


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45