Thermo Electron Corporation has been awarded a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract with the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor for the supply and support of the Nuclear Instrumentation System.

Thermo Electron Corporation, an industry leading producer of analytical and process instrumentation, has announced it has been awarded a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract with Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) of South Africa for the design, manufacture, delivery, installation support, and commissioning of the Nuclear Instrumentation System. Thermo will supply multiple ex-core Neutron Flux and Gamma Flux Monitoring Systems for the PBMR Demonstration Power Plant (DPP), which will be built at Koeberg in the Western Cape of South Africa. 'At Thermo, we're committed to bringing innovative technology and solutions to the nuclear power plant market,' said Clark Artaud, director for Nuclear Products in Thermo: 'This contract with PBMR allows us to participate in an exciting inherently safe type Generation IV nuclear power plant project at the early stages, and we look forward to working with PBMR to showcase our revolutionary neutron flux monitoring systems in South Africa and worldwide'.

The Thermo neutron flux monitoring system uses fission chamber-based detectors exclusively as the neutron sensitive element in the system.

A single detector system spans more than 11 decades of reactor power.

By contrast, conventional neutron flux monitoring systems require several detector systems to cover the same range.

The Thermo neutron flux monitoring system provides reliable neutron flux measurement from about 10 (to the power -10) percent to 200 percent reactor power logarithmically.

The total range is designed to span from reactor cold shutdown source level to greater than 100 percent reactor power, or from about 0.01 nv to 10(to the power +10) nv, in a harsh environment.

The solution is designed to measure neutron flux with the detector in a high gamma radiation and electrical noise environment.

The systems are qualified to operate for 40 years under normal conditions and to survive a design basis event (DBE), providing reliable measurement before, during, and after the DBE.

Thermo neutron flux monitoring systems are environmentally and seismically qualified for Class 1E Safety-Related Source, Intermediate, and Power Range applications, and meet U.S NRC RG 1.97 Post Accident Monitoring and 10CFR50 Appendix R (Remote Shutdown Monitoring) requirements.

Key features and benefits of the Thermo neutron flux monitoring systems include.

* Eliminates failure-prone short-lived BF3 and CIC detectors.

* Reduces personnel exposure associated with frequent detector replacements.

* Replaces multiple channels with one, reducing maintenance and inventory.

* Enables a 40-year life under normal full power operating conditions.

* Qualifies for safety class 1E and US NRC RG 1.97 Post Accident Monitoring applications.

* Demonstrates high immunity to electromagnetic interference and noise.

* Provides modern, proven electronics for high reliability and low maintenance.

* Ensures spare parts availability into the future through a modular design.

For more information regarding the Thermo neutron flux monitoring system, please visit the nuclear section of the Thermo website.

The South African Pebble Bed Modular Reactor company (PBMR) was established in 1999 with the intention to develop and market small-scale output, high-temperature reactors both locally and internationally.

The 700-member PBMR project team is based in Centurion near Pretoria, South Africa.

The pebble bed modular reactor is a High Temperature Reactor (HTR), with a closed-cycle, gas turbine power conversion system.

Although it is not the only HTR currently being developed in the world, the South African project is internationally regarded as the leader in the power generation field.

Very high efficiency and attractive economics are possible without compromising the high levels of passive safety expected of advanced nuclear designs.

Developing out of a desire for energy sustainability, the PBMR technology defines 21st century energy thinking.

Its ability to economically generate electricity and create high value co-products such as hydrogen for the fuel of the future, desalinated water and industrial or residential process heat, not only sets it apart from all previous nuclear reactors, but also from the next generation of energy sources.

The PBMR is therefore poised to be the world's first commercial scale advanced reactor built in the new millennium.

The PacifiCorp Energy challenge was to implement an alarms and events server for their power generation systems that would extract and store event data from the sequence of events recorder.

The PacifiCorp Energy challenge was to implement an alarms and events server for their power generation systems that would extract and store event data from the sequence of events recorder in the PLC control system. Once that was in place, a client application was needed to view the stored alarms and events data. Many alarms are generated when a generator is suddenly stopped.

The SCADA system did not provide accurate event time stamping of the alarms or store the alarms for later use, noticeably increasing recovery time from an unplanned shutdown, leaving PacifiCorp unable to meet demands for power, and incurring significant down-time costs.

The ability to analyse concrete data from alarm related events would enable engineers to provide support with confidence and ultimately to shorten the length of the shut-down.

Several factors led PacifiCorp to purchase and install the Matrikon A+E Archiver for storing alarms and events.

* Overall satisfaction with other OPC servers used at the Hydro Control Centre facility.

* The existence of sequence of event recorder modules in the PLC controls system.

* A software solution would be significantly less costly than a proprietary hardware system.

The MatrikonOPC A+E Historian is a Sequence of Events (SOE) database that collects and archives time-stamped, text-based information from any device that can send information using serial, TCP/IP, printers, network printers, or OPC A+E.

The A+E Historian is perfect for merging DCS alarms and events, logging network events, replacing sequence of event recorders, loggers, or any other type device that sends text-based messages.

PacifiCorp also purchased and installed a modified version of MatrikonOPC Server for Modbus.

This OPC Server is modified specifically to communicate with Monaham sequence of event modules in the Modicon Quantum PLC control system connecting and reading 256 to 512 points for alarms and/or status.

This software serves up the raw data from the data sources into the OPC A+E Historian.

Intellution iFix is used as the HMI client application.

The application performed impressively in a test system.

It has since been installed at the JC Boyle plant in Oregon and it is performing equally as well.

The software modification and implementation went very well because there were clear objectives, with sufficient information to do the design.

There were a couple of minor issues that were quickly resolved.

One was the hand-shaking issue when extracting the data from the sequence of event recorder and the other was the rate of extraction.

The Matrikon personnel on-site for the implementation of the test systems worked on the implementation and training on the A+E Archiver, Viewer and the OPC server.

They were very knowledgeable with the applications and were able to efficiently resolve problems which occurred during the implementation.

PacifiCorp now have the ability to store and view events so that they can accurately and expediently troubleshoot the system in the event of an unplanned shut-down.

With easy access to this data the engineers can provide confident support, reducing maintenance and down-time, quickly meeting the demands for power and avoiding lost revenue.

The long term plan is to install the applications in all of the PacifiCorp generation facilities.

PacifiCorp is one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, providing more than 1.6 million customers with reliable, efficient energy.

The focus on the Malvern Instruments stand at easyFairs Solids 2006 will be the Insitec T on-line, and the Insitec Aliss at-line, particle size analysers.

The focus on the Malvern Instruments stand at easyFairs Solids 2006 (scheduled for 1-2 November 2006 at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry) will be the Insitec T on-line, and the Insitec Aliss at-line, particle size analysers. These laser diffraction-based systems are from the extensive range of Malvern on-line, in-line, at-line and off-line solutions for particle characterisation. Designed to produce continuous particle sizing information for real time process control, Insitec systems are both rugged and robust, reflecting the exacting demands placed on analytical instrumentation in a process environment.

The instrument, the process interface, analysis software, automation and data reporting can all be customised to the unique needs of individual clients.

The recently introduced Insitec Aliss at-line analyzer has applications in a wide range of processing industries, including powder coatings, minerals and cement.

It uses the same proven Malvern Insitec technology and platform normally employed for particle sizing on-line.

Users therefore gain access to this robust laser diffraction technology to make measurements in an automated laboratory, or manually close to the process line.

A Malvern Zetasizer Nano particle characterisation system at the Cornell University NanoBioTechnology Center is being used for a wide variety of applications.

A Malvern Zetasizer Nano particle characterization system at the Cornell University NanoBioTechnology Center (NBTC) is being used for a wide variety of applications. These range from DNA size measurement and the study of DNA-DNA interactions, through the development of photonic crystal lattices, to the creation of cylindrical nanoparticles. The system has been in place for just over one year and around 80 researchers now have access to it.

Many had no previous experience of light scattering systems, so the Zetasizer Nano easy operation and straightforward data interpretation have been crucial in making this a truly valuable resource for such diverse research groups.

Research Associate Dr Magnus Bergkvist is responsible for equipping the laboratories and provides training for users on the available equipment.

'One of the major benefits of the Zetasizer Nano is that I can deliver training in just one hour that enables anyone to use the system and perform basic data interpretation.

The system is now pretty busy and is being used across all the scientific disciplines, often for applications that I never would have imagined,' he said.

The NBTC is a scientific research centre within Cornell University.

It has a shared, multi-user facility established to promote cross-disciplinary research in nanobiotechnology and is open to both industry and academia.

'Not only do we provide instrumentation and services to supplement what is available to scientists in their own labs, we also offer consultation and can help researchers make contact with one another,' commented Dr Bergkvist.

Interest in purchasing a system for measuring nanosized particles came initially from a research group working on drug encapsulation.

A survey of other facility users revealed that a number of groups would also find this kind of instrumentation helpful.

The TTE Technical Training Group has completed the first stage of a training programme, supporting the development of local people in Azerbaijan.

The TTE Technical Training Group has completed the first stage of a training programme, supporting the development of local people in Azerbaijan. Delivered at the Caspian Technical Training Centre in Baku, which is operated as a joint venture between TTE and Petrofac (TTE-Petrofac), the 'Train the Trainers' programme provides Azerbaijani nationals with the necessary skills to teach and assess their fellow countrymen. Six assistant trainers have now successfully completed the programme, which included classroom and workshop observations, and is the first part of their development programme to become competent trainers.

As part of the programme the trainers attended a couple of two-day workshops for the A1 Assessor award, which was followed up by compiling portfolios of evidence using BP standards to assess their competence.

The TTE Technical Training Group, which is the UK's largest employer-led technical training provider, has had a presence in Azerbaijan since 2003 after its joint venture with Petrofac Facilities Management International (PFMI) was awarded the prestigious contract to train 1,000 technicians to meet BP targets for a competent and skilled workforce.

The CTTC is designed to meet the needs of all the Production Sharing Agreements operated by BP and its partners in the Caspian region.

The operations include the Shah Deniz gas and condensate field, which lies under the seabed of the Caspian Sea, some 100 kilometres south of Baku in water depths of up to 600 metres.

TTE - Petrofac work in partnership with BP to manage and deliver the CTTC and training needs of BP lead projects in the Caspian Region.

The CTTC facility is based at the Sangachal Terminal and is defined as a world class technical training facility by BP and its partners.

Phil Blewitt, The TTE Technical Training Group Commercial Business Director, said: 'We are committed in Azerbaijan to ensure we continue to develop the skills and competencies of local people, this programme is yet another demonstration of our ability to develop one of the essential competencies needed when carrying out world class technical training and assessment.

Our state of the art facilities at the CTTC together with our experienced training experts have allowed us to support the development of Azerbaijani national staff working for BP and its production sharing partners.

TTE - Petrofac will provide a legacy of competent, safe and skilled personnel in Baku and with the completion of the first stage of this programme we will be able to deliver this alongside skilled local trainers.'

SABIC has reached agreement on the US$700 million acquisition of the Huntsman European base chemicals and polymers business.

Mohamed Al-Mady, Vice Chairman and CEO of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) and Peter Huntsman, President and CEO of Huntsman Corporation today announced they have agreed terms under which SABIC will acquire 100 per cent of the shares of Huntsman Petrochemicals (UK) (the Huntsman European Base Chemicals and Polymers business) for a purchase price of US$700 million in cash. After the completion of the deal, SABIC intends to complete the construction of the 400kpta capacity polyethylene (LDPE) plant in Wilton, Teeside at an investment cost of US$150 million. The acquisition marks a significant step in the SABIC global growth plans.

The Huntsman business adds substantial capacity to SABIC Europe and complements their strong home base in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

On completion of the deal, all 830 Huntsman Petrochemicals (UK) employees will transfer to SABIC under the same employment conditions.

SABIC is the largest public company in the Middle East, ranked by market capitalisation (more than US$100 billion), and one of the world's 10 largest petrochemicals manufacturers.

The company is among the world's market leaders in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene, glycols, methanol, MTBE and fertilisers, as well as the fourth largest polymer producer.

The acquired manufacturing business operates a 865 ktpa ethylene/ 400 ktpa propylene cracker and 1.3 million tpa Aromatics facilities with elaborate logistical facilities at Wilton and North Tees.

The 400 ktpa LDPE plant, which is in the early stages of construction, is scheduled to come on stream by the end of 2007.

Commenting on the acquisition, Mr Al-Mady said, 'The acquisition of the Huntsman UK/European business is a major addition to the Sabic Europe group of companies and to the SABIC business overall.

This deal demonstrates our commitment to growing the SABIC business and the success of our globalisation strategy.

We have achieved substantial growth in Europe in recent years, following the successful integration of the DSM petrochemical business in 2002.

The businesses we are acquiring at Wilton and North Tees add additional talented employees and offer further high quality production platforms to achieve our next stage of growth, and will add to our other sites in Europe - in Geleen, Holland and Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

We are fully committed to realizing the full potential of these businesses and therefore we intend to invest and grow the business in the future, including the continued construction of the new polyethylene plant'.

Recent Aker Kvaerner contracts for power boiler plant have included a major project in Asia, and a letter of intent to provide three power boilers in France, to a total value of 100Million Euro.

Aker Kvaerner has secured a boiler contract in Asia, and a letter of intent to provide three power boilers to another customer in France. The combined orders are worth approximately Euro 100 million to Aker Kvaerner. Kvaerner Power, part of the Aker Kvaerner group, will supply a recovery boiler for a project in Asia.

This project commences shortly and the boiler will be completed within two years.

Kvaerner Power has also signed a letter of intent to supply three power boilers to a French customer for its power plants in three different locations in France.

The boilers are scheduled for start-up towards the end of 2008.

In addition to these new orders, Kvaerner Power has received contracts to supply a non-condensable gas incineration system to the Torraspapel pulp mill in Zaragoza, Spain, plus a flue gas cleaning and heat recovery system to Stora Enso for its Heinola fluting mill power plant in Finland.

The European Union commitment to reduce carbon emissions is likely to support increased investment in more environmentally friendly power generation systems, according to a recent research report
The control of Carbon Emissions will boost automation and control solutions revenues in the power generation sector. The European Union (EU) commitment to reduce carbon emissions across EU member states is likely to support increased investment in more environmentally friendly power generation systems. Accordingly, the implementation of the Emissions trading scheme in 2005, which has provided power plants and factories with allowances related to permissible carbon dioxide levels, is gaining importance and this is projected to be an significant driver for automation and control solutions (ACS) in the European power generation sector over the next few years.

Frost and Sullivan finds that revenues from automation and control solutions in the European Power Generation Sector, which reached US$1,272 million in 2005, are estimated at US$1,595 million by 2012.

'The Emissions trading scheme, together with reduced subsidies for less environmentally friendly power generation, are expected to boost demand and generate new investment opportunities for automation and control solutions,' remarks Frost and Sullivan industry analyst Jonas Westlund.

For example, investment in hydroelectric plants and wind farms is expected to generate demand for control and monitoring systems such as supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA) whereas increased demand of gas-fired plants and combined cycle gas turbines should generate new investment opportunities for distributed control system (DCS) systems.

Other drivers for growth in ACS include the deregulation of the European energy markets.

Although this driver is expected to have less impact over the forecast period it is still expected to have a relatively high impact in Italy, Spain, France and also amongst EU accession countries.

In terms of geographical growth markets, the EU accession countries are expected to see increased investment levels in new power generation facilities.

Existing power infrastructure is outdated and further investment is needed to comply with targets on carbon emission as well as achieve greater efficiency in power supply.

Although the main source of energy is expected to remain coal over the forecast period, a gradual shift towards more environmentally friendly power generation investment is nevertheless anticipated.

An important trend in the European power generation sector will be the increasing importance of total system suppliers.

As the power sector is operated by fewer but more influential power utilities, pressure will increase on ACS manufacturers to meet the evolving supply needs of the power utilities.

Through forward integration, many power utilities now control the complete product value chain from downstream generation to upstream distribution.

Consolidation in emerging markets such as Eastern Europe has provided the major power utilities with opportunities to tap into organic growth.

'The trend towards provision of complete solutions will also mean that smaller suppliers will lose out on new Greenfield projects as they do not necessary have the expertise in providing complete system solutions as well as the ability to provide services over a wider geographical region'.