- Bilfinger appointed by UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) to develop and deliver virtual control room for tritium fuel cycle facility in Oxfordshire
- Simulations used to train engineers in the handling and management of tritium, improving safety and efficiency of operations
- Introduction of innovative training methods and strengthened collaboration within fusion industry
Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. International industrial services provider Bilfinger was appointed by the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) as a Tier-One contractor and created a virtual control room for its tritium fuel cycle facility in Oxfordshire, to train future engineers and to showcase the potential of fusion power to important stakeholders.
Bilfinger’s EI&C (Electrical, Instrumentation, and Control) team in UK has managed the design and delivery of the new digital simulator for UKAEA’s tritium fuel cycle facility at their Culham Campus. The UKAEA-Eni H3AT Tritium Loop Facility is a world-class tritium research facility that gives industry and academia the chance to study how to process, store and recycle tritium, one of the key technological systems for fueling fusion power stations. “H3AT” – pronounced ‘heat’ – stands for H3 (Tritium) Advanced Technology.
This new virtual control room allows staff at the facility to undergo computer-based simulated training exercises. Tritium is a scarce gas that needs to be handled with care and this training helps operators develop the skills to maintain a safe and controlled environment. This enables engineers to train for a range of situations that they wouldn’t be able to practice in the real world, which in turn provides UKAEA the ability to build a digital library of training scenarios.
The digital system also allows UKAEA to simulate potential changes to the plant’s operating parameters and the possible knock-on effects, allowing it to optimize processes. Alongside this, UKAEA is able to demonstrate its operations to important stakeholders within this virtual control room, reinforcing their position as a global leader in the research, development and delivery of tritium management processes.
Darren Clement, Vice President EAP, Bilfinger Engineering and Maintenance UK, said: “The exciting research at Culham has the potential to dramatically change the world’s future energy mix – realizing the potential for safe, clean and virtually limitless energy. This virtual control room gives UKAEA the ability to further improve its processes while also ensuring staff are able to learn the important skills needed to help make sure operations run smoothly and safely. We’ve supported the nuclear industry for 60 years, supporting pioneers and major operators as they safely deliver clean energy in abundance.”
Stephen Wheeler, Executive Director for Fusion Technology and Tritium Fuel Cycle, at UKAEA, said: “The UKAEA-Eni H3AT Tritium Loop Facility will be the largest and most advanced tritium fuel cycle in the world. It also represents a significant advance in the enhancement of industry capability within the fusion sector. By creating this digital control room with the support of Bilfinger, we're increasing technical capability and supporting industry to deliver the mechanisms that will serve fusion in the future. The development provides an unprecedented opportunity to train the next generation of fusion engineers through cutting-edge virtual simulation technology.
“Using digital technology to train operators is business-as-usual across several divisions at UKAEA, so it is really pleasing that we are able to employ the same principles within the UKAEA-Eni H3AT Tritium Loop Facility.
“We are also delighted to have been able to support a broad supply chain through this investment.”
