October 2009

News > Latest news > Data logging installation at Dungeness

Data logging installation at Dungeness

Dungeness B is a twin Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor (AGR) nuclear power station based in Kent on the South coast of England. With a net output of nearly 1100MW, the station is capable of supplying approximately 1 million homes with electricity.

Each reactor has a data logger system that is responsible for recording various plant parameters during operation of the reactor under steady state and transient conditions. Data collected by this system is used by British Energy to analyse the condition of the plan and forms a vital part of its operational control and monitoring system.

British Energy identified that their existing high speed data logging system was required to be replaced by a modern system and Capula was contracted to install a replacement, using Siemens scanning equipment (S7 and WinCC) plus OSIsoft PI. Time series data is continually logged at high speed by the on-board control system, and in the event of a trip, a ‘window' of data (from half an hour prior through several hours after the event) is automatically grabbed and set aside for analysis. The data is finely time-stamped, accurate to within a millisecond, which ensures very precise data for subsequent in-depth analysis.

The advantage of the new system is that the data is immediately available for analysis, enabling Dungeness to determine far more quickly the condition of the reactor and continue to ensure the safe operation of the plant. This leads to improved safety, efficiency, plant availability and subsequent cost savings for the power station.

Another advantage of the high-speed data logging system is that any defects or warnings are flagged up far quicker, minimising down-time.

“As an independent system integrator and technology partner with leading products OSIsoft and Siemens, we have been able combine these to create a high-performing solution for British Energy,” said Chief Executive Roger Turner, “Our expertise in providing the Energy and Utilities markets with Automation Control and Real-time Business Intelligence made us an obvious choice for the job, and we look forward to continuing our excellent relationship with Dungeness on future projects.”

If you would like further information, please email our Business Development Team: sales@capula.co.uk