CONTEXT AND CHALLENGES
Our client is constructing the 1st EPR in Finland, for a Finnish Utility.
This EPR offers enhanced competitiveness and safety, along with optimized fuel management, less radioactive waste and a longer lifetime. It is designed to withstand external hazards as well as internal events. More reliable and cost-effective than previous reactors, this first-off unit is a major, complex undertaking.
The client has asked Assystem for construction support and commissioning of this EPR, providing skillful and experienced staff to take part into this project. The scope of work is to provide technical assistance to support the construction team on site for nuclear island, perform the I&C (Instrumentation and Control) project management of the self standing systems of the EPR, V&V (Verification and Validation) tasks part of commissioning, etc.
Project scope
- I&C project management of the self standing systems of the EPR: validate the supplier’s technical documentations and their I&C hardware and software test procedures, follow up the manufacturing and the cubicles' factory test, and perform the complete software FAT witnessed by the end client while editing the non-compliance test reports
- Development of commissioning procedures and overall commissioning programme
- Development of testing procedure for the main NSSS (Nuclear Steam Supply System) system and components, up to final acceptance before fuel loading
- Change management and configuration database maintenance
- Verification and Validation tasks and procedures of the I&C control systems for self-standing equipment with the safety standards:
- Definition of the conventional and nuclear safety requirements by performing the equipment’s failure mode, effects and criticality analysis
- Drafting of the safety functions specifications
- Supplier’s design and test documentation validation
- Supplier’s I&C and panel supply follow up
- Factory Acceptance Tests
- Test reports and analysis
- Back-office assistance for site activities (Installation and Commissioning)
client benefits
- Obtaining permanent operating license for Fuel Loading, and to perform the handover to temporary operation organization
- Efficient fulfilment of the project requirements, keeping it to time and budget thanks to lessons learned implemented on this programme:
- Supply chain ‘right first-time' response with regard to compliance
- Identification of YVL (Finish Safety Manuals) impacts on equipment supplied (safety classification and associated requirements) aided the equipment qualification process, leading to smooth demonstration of compliance and faster approvals
- Good knowledge of client procedures and processes, leading to ensuring full safety, as well as highly experienced engineers who have helped to commission France's nuclear power plants
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