Together with PreussenElektra, the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (HSZG) hosted the 7th I&C workshop at the end of November 2016, which focused on the power control of pressurized water reactors.

Representatives from AREVA, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management, the Ministry for Energy Transition, Agriculture, Environment and Rural Areas of Schleswig-Holstein, the Brokdorf nuclear power plant, the Isar II nuclear power plant and the Gösgen-Däniken AG nuclear power plant (Switzerland) took part in the exchange of experience.

It was particularly pleasing that some of the guests and speakers returned to their former place of training at the Zittau/Görlitz Energy University. Interested students and employees of the university also took the opportunity to take part in the control technology workshop and thus gained a comprehensive insight into the tasks of an engineer in energy technology.

This year's I&C workshop was led by Prof. A. Kratzsch (IPM) and Mr. F. Dräger (PreussenElektra). During the event, it once again became clear how flexibly and reliably nuclear power plants react to load change requirements. In addition to the numerous presentations on reactor control, the results of current and successfully completed international research projects of recent years with the participation of PreussenElektra and the University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Process Engineering, Process Automation and Measurement Technology were also presented in the form of presentations and posters. In addition, the safe, reliable and low-emission operation of German nuclear power plants to stabilize the German and European interconnected grid was highlighted.

In addition to the highly interesting presentations in the university's Senate Hall, the guests also visited the Zittau power plant laboratory at the Stadtwerke Zittau GmbH site with its three large-scale test facilities: the magnetic bearing test rig (MFLP), the thermochemical test field (TCV) and the thermal energy storage facility (THERESA). This was followed by a tour of the university's energy technology cabinet.

The 7th I&C workshop underlines the excellent cooperation between PreussenElektra, AREVA and the IPM and thus makes an important contribution to maintaining knowledge and expertise in the field of nuclear safety research.

The participants agreed on the continuation of the good cooperation. In particular, the focus is on the further expansion of expertise in control technology at the Zittau university site. The results of these efforts will be presented at the 8th I&C workshop.

Author: M. Eng. Christian Vogel/IPM