Factory acceptance tests for both simulations, Calvert Cliffs and Hope Creek, were succesfully carried out at Corys Thunder Inc. offices with Thunder España engineer Beatriz Vidal on-site support.

The 36th Annual Meeting of the Spanish Nuclear Society was held in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, from October 5 to 8. During the event, several technical sessions covering different topics were conducted by professionals and companies from the Spanish nuclear sector. Thunder España Simulación presented the paper «Trainining Solutions to the Global Challenges of a Nuclear Renaissance» (downloadable here), co-authored with Corys T.E.S.S. and Corys Thunder Inc., in the "Operation" session.

Previously, Thunder España attended the 4th General Assembly of CEIDEN, the Spanish Technological Platform for Nuclear Fission Energy, in Madrid on September 30. CEIDEN is sponsored by the Government and the Nuclear Safety Council to promote and coordinate the participation of national entities (ministries, private companies, research centers, universities) in fission R&D programs.

As part of a large contract signed between the U.S. NRC and Corys Thunder Inc. to update one of the full-scope simulators used in inspectors' training, Thunder España Simulación is in charge of the replacement of the Plant Process Computer.

The simulator, a Westinghouse-designed PWR, is located in the NRC's Technical Training Center in Chattanooga (Tennessee) and is based on the now decommissioned Trojan NPP in Oregon. This project also includes the rehosting of the simulator to PCs running T-REX platform, the upgrading of neutronics and thermal-hydraulic models to THOR-S3R and the design and set-up of a completely digital control room (hardware and software).

Mario Garcés took part in the last stages (Garoña, Burgos and Madrid), along with participants from the nuclear industry all over the world, including representatives from countries such as Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Romania, Hungary, Russia, Ukraine or Kazakhstan. Mario finished the competitive 7 km last stage in 15th place. Russian Leningrad NPP worker Aleksey Brusnitsyn was the winner.

Laguna Verde, located in Mexico and operated by the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), is going to replace the reactor core, Reactor Coolant System (RCS) and containment models on its training simulator.

Calvert Cliffs, located in Maryland and operated by the Constellation Energy Nuclear Group (CENG), is going for a complete model upgrade, which includes the following systems: Reactor core, RCS, Balance Of Plant (BOP), containment and Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning system (HVAC).

THOR advanced thermal hydraulics models, property of Corys Thunder Inc., along with the Studsvik S3R core model, will be used to replace the existing models in both cases.

To complete such large projects, Corys Thunder Inc. relies on Thunder España Simulación collaboration services.

The prize, apart from 10,000 EUR, consists of a scholarship for the "Ignite Fast Tracking Innovation" course at the University of Cambridge (U.K.) and the attendance to one of the world's most important innovation hubs. There, the winner will be able to meet another international companies and new business opportunities.

Thunder España was proud to accept this prestigious award and will compete with the rest of regional award-winners for the national prize in the final phase, which will be held in Barcelona on June 16 and 17.

Stanley Chan, Corys Thunder Inc. engineer, and Mario Garcés, from Thunder España, travel to Vogtle nuclear station in Georgia (U.S.) to install the simulation of the PSMS (Plant Safety Monitoring System) at the plant's full-scope training simulator. After a short testing period, the system is already used as part of the training program.

The new PSMS, almost entirely developed by Thunder España engineers, replaces the former simulation that had become obsolete and was causing constant operational problems. Simulator managers have pointed out the excellent quality of the graphics and high level of detail.