Innovative techniques applied to ABWR project engineering

General Electric's (GE) Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR) project is characterised by the use of new production methods and tools, a document configuration system that was defined from the outset and wide-ranging, smooth communications. The project also had a large number of participating companies from different cities in the US (San Jose, San Francisco, Kansas City, Washington), Mexico (Veracruz) and Spain (Madrid). One of the basic requirements applicable to advanced nuclear power plant projects is the need for an Information Management System (IMS) which shall be valid for the entire life of the plant, which means that all the documentation must be available in electronic format. The basic engineering tool for the ABWR project is POWRTRAK, a computer application developed by Black and Veatch (B and V). POWRTRAK comprise a single database, in which each datum is stored in only one place and used in real time. It consists of various modules, some of which are associated with technical data and the generation of diagrams (CASES, application used to generate piping and instrumentation, logic and electric wiring diagrams), three-dimensional electronic mock-up, planning, purchasing management, etc. GE adapted the Odesta Document Management System (ODMS) commercial application to its documentation file/control needs. In this system all the documentation produced in the project is filed in both native and universal formats (PDF). (Author)