Dedicated training system application to support a digital system upgrade

Digital instrumentation and control (I and C) system upgrades are currently being pursued in growing numbers within the nuclear power industry in order to improve performance and reliability and to replace aging analog hardware. One such recent application is implementation of a digital feedwater control system at the Pacific Gas and Electric Diablo Canyon units. In addition to the set of equipment installed in the field, a corresponding subset of equipment identical in nature to a portion of the field system was purchased as a full-scope training system. The primary purpose of the training system was to support lab experience for utility I and C engineers and technicians who would be required to perform maintenance. Since installation and start-up, however, experience has shown there to be a number of additional benefits derived from use of the training system. This paper provides an overview of this experience and develops a basis for promoting use of such a training system as a valuable asset to complement implementation of any digital I and C system upgrade of this type