L-3 MAPPS announced today that it has won an order from Electrabel S.A. for the supply of a full scope operator training simulator for the Tihange 1 nuclear power plant located in the Walloon province of Liège, Belgium. The project will start immediately, and the simulator is expected to enter service in the first quarter of 2016. Tractebel Engineering, the engineering arm of Electrabel, will lead the project.
"L-3 MAPPS is delighted to add Electrabel as a new customer, allowing us to further cement our position in Europe," said Michael Chatlani, vice president of marketing & sales for L-3 MAPPS Power Systems and Simulation. "For the next two years, we will work diligently to produce another advanced full scope operator training simulator to ensure that Electrabel experiences the same high degree of customer satisfaction that our other customers are accustomed to."
"Through our extensive diligence, it became clear that L-3 MAPPS had the best track record for the supply of full scope nuclear plant simulators," said Michel Deboeck, Tihange 1 long-term operation project manager for Tractebel Engineering. "We have every confidence that L-3 MAPPS will deliver an excellent product with its Orchid? platform."
The Tihange 1 full scope simulator, equipped with full replica control room panels, will use L-3's state-of-the-art graphical simulation PC/Windows-based tools for the plant models and instructor station. All of the plant systems will be simulated in the Orchid simulation environment, including the reactor, nuclear steam supply systems, balance of plant systems, the electrical AC and DC distribution systems, and I&C systems. The electrical grid, including the main generators and transformers, will be modeled with FAST, a product of Tractebel Engineering.
Electrabel is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, and is owned by GDF SUEZ, a world leader in energy and the environment. The company is active in the production of electricity and in the selling of electricity, natural gas and energy services to retail and business customers. At the end of 2012, Electrabel's generating capacity was 9,879 MW, slightly less than half the total capacity in Belgium (47.9 percent). Electrabel operates seven nuclear reactors, four at Doel and three at Tihange, with a total nuclear capacity of almost 6,000 MW. Tihange 1, located 95 kilometers southeast of Brussels along the Meuse River, is a three-loop pressurized water reactor with an electrical output of 962 MW. The plant was commissioned in 1975 and, on July 4, 2012, the Federal Agency of Nuclear Control decided to extend the operational life of Tihange 1 by ten years until 2025. Tihange 1 is operated by Electrabel and is equally owned by Electrabel and électricité de France.
L-3 MAPPS, a division of L-3 Marine & Power Systems, has over 30 years of experience in pioneering technological advances in the marine automation field and over 40 years of experience in delivering high-fidelity power plant simulation to leading utilities worldwide. In addition, the company has more than four 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.
Comprising 25 operating companies, L-3 Marine & Power Systems (L-3 M&PS) is a worldwide leader in maritime automation and control, navigation, communications, dynamic positioning, and power distribution and conditioning for the U.S. Navy, allied foreign navies and commercial customers worldwide. L-3 M&PS also produces full-fidelity simulators for increased operator proficiency, resulting in safe operations for leading international utilities and ship operators. With over 85 locations in 19 countries, L-3 M&PS is a cohesive, global partner with extensive capabilities and a proven track record in delivering the highest level of technology, service and integration.
Headquartered in New York City, L-3 employs approximately 51,000 people worldwide and is a prime contractor in C3ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) systems, platform and logistics solutions, and national security solutions. L-3 is also a leading provider of a broad range of electronic systems used on military and commercial platforms. The company reported 2012 sales of $13.1 billion.
