The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has certified Rolls-Royce's Spinline digital instrumentation and control (I&C) platform for use in US nuclear power plants.
Spinline is a technology-independent platform that is designed to underpin safety-critical I&C systems such as the Reactor Protection System (RPS) and the Neutron Instrumentation system (NIS), in new nuclear power plants and for the modernisation of existing safety I&C systems in operating plants.
Rolls-Royce claims the system enables power utilities to 'enhance nuclear safety and operational efficiency over the lifetime of their plant.'
More than 10,000 pages of documentation covering how the technology works, its qualification and related processes were required prior to formal certification being issued by the US NRC.
"This certification marks a significant milestone in the 40-year history of our market-leading safety I&C technology platform. Our customers have already chosen Spinline technology for 76 pressurised water reactors and Russian-designed VVER reactors worldwide," said Eric Blanc, President - I&C, Rolls-Royce.
Spinline evolved from the first digital integrated protection system developed by Rolls-Royce for Paluel 2 reactor in France and installed in 1984.
The technology has also been chosen for major I&C modernisation programmes worldwide, including refurbishment of the I&C at Dukovany in the Czech Republic (completed 2009) and for the modernisation of two VVER units at Loviisa NPP in Finland. In 2011, EDF and AREVA selected the technology for modernisation of 20 of its 1300 MW pressurised water reactors, which Rolls-Royce says is the biggest modernization project in the world.
