In July 2015, the two Barakah full scope simulators, based on the latest available Unit 1 design data, were ready for reactor operator training.

The simulators were developed by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and Western Services Corporation (WSC) for Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), who is the Prime Contractor for delivering four Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor (APWR1400) nuclear power plants to the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC).

The ENEC Barakah Simulator Training Center (STC) is home of the two simulators, which are identical to the Unit 1 Main Control Room. Each simulator has a Large Display Panel, which highlights the most important parameters for quick operator reference, and five operator stations from which Reactor Operators can consult any system within the plant through their Man-Machine Interface System. 

The APR1400 simulators, which were developed using WSCs 3KEYMASTER simulation software, are among the most advanced simulators in the world due to the complexity of both the core modeling and the Instrumentation and Control systems. The simulators integrate multiple specialized software systems to reproduce the closest possible responses of the real plant.

"Safety is and will remain our main priority and highly trained and prepared reactor operators are critical to the safety of our plants," said Mohammed Al Hammadi, chief executive of ENEC. "Our state-of-the-art simulators are designed to replicate real scenarios and processes that our reactor operators will face every day. This form of training has been proven to be a reliable and successful training method."

WSC has been the simulation software supplier to KHNP for the APWR since 2003 and we are delighted to continue that relationship with the on-time delivery of the simulators to the Barakah STC said John Smith, CEO of WSC.