GSE Systems of Columbia, Maryland, said it had been awarded two contracts to update power plant simulators at two separate nuclear facilities. The contracts, the company said, are valued at approximately $8 million.
The first contract is from Slovenske Electrame, a.s. The work entails updating the Mochovce unit 3 and 4 simulator with GSE servicing as the prime contractor for the project.
Slovenske Elektrame is completing construction of two VVER-440 reactors at the Mochovce site in Slovokia. GSE won the contract with international competition for the work in 2009 with the simulator delivered in 2013. However, as the plant nears commissioning (it is expected to go on line in 2019) the simulator requires updating to reflect the final, as-built design, GSE said.
The upgrades are expected to take 16 months to complete. The plant is a VVER-440 design with a modern Siemens/Areva control system.
The second contract was awarded by Greatus Company, Ltd., of Seoul, Korea, for upgrades for Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Company's Kori Unit 2 simulator.
The original simulator for the unit was built by GSE and Samsung Electronics in 1998. It was, subsequently, upgraded in 2006.
The new upgrades will involve GSE's JADE Simulation platform along with RELAP5-HD, REMARK and PSA-HD to model the reactor core and thermohydraulic systems as well as severe accident scenarios.
The value of the Greatus contract is about $1.5 million. The work is expected to be completed over 17 months, GSE said.