The Cofrentes nuclear power plant is located in eastern Spain, approximately 70 kilometers as the crow flies west-southwest of Valencia, and consists of a boiling water reactor. The reactor has a gross electrical output of 1102 MW, making it Spain’s most powerful reactor. Construction began on September 9, 1975. The plant was first synchronized with the power grid on October 14, 1984, and commenced commercial operation on March 11, 1985. The nuclear power plant is a sister facility of the Leibstadt nuclear power plant.

The “IFTS” Project

During each revision, old fuel rods are removed from the reactor and new fuel rods are introduced via the Inclined Fuel Transfer System (IFTS). Autexis modernized this process, which is not part of the reactor itself, at Leibstadt several years ago, thereby increasing the safety of fuel rod handling.

The Concept

A key feature of this concept is the replacement of underwater position sensors, which in the past required extensive maintenance. Using a sophisticated solution, the actual positions of the various mechanical components during the IFTS process are calculated from diverse physical measurement values. Naturally, redundant systems are employed for these calculations to achieve the greatest possible process reliability. With the help of an informative visualization, the operator receives an exact picture of the process and the states during fuel handling.

Customer Benefits

This innovative solution achieves significantly lower radiation exposure for operating and maintenance personnel, as no maintenance is required in a contaminated environment. This means: A dive for maintenance of the underwater position sensors is no longer necessary. Furthermore, safety is increased through the use of modern systems.

Project Status

The project at the Cofrentes nuclear power plant is currently in the design phase, meaning: The final details regarding the mechanical and control technology solution components are being defined. Implementation of the hardware and software is planned for 2014. The fact that customers in distant Spain rely on our services is a great responsibility for us. We look forward to it.

Energy Sector Segment at Autexis

For over 13 years, we have been a partner to satisfied customers of our professional services in the energy sector. We modernize solutions at nuclear power plants, river power plants, energy centers, tank farms, and airports. These are often innovative, forward-looking solutions, as demonstrated in this magazine using the example of ITER, based on a fusion reactor.

Demanding automation solutions implemented by Autexis:

• Monitoring of critical processes in energy management
• Safety controls for doors/airlocks
• Waste processing
• Complex ventilation systems
• Fuel rod handling
• Calibration-compliant fuel handling
• Refueling and de-icing systems