In collaboration with PreussenElektra, the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (HSZG) hosted the 7th Control Technology Workshop in late November 2016, focusing on power control in pressurized water reactors.

Representatives from AREVA, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, the Federal Office for Nuclear Waste Management Safety, the Ministry for Energy Transition, Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Areas of the State of Schleswig-Holstein, the Brokdorf Nuclear Power Plant, the Isar II Nuclear Power Plant, and Gösgen-Däniken AG (Switzerland).

It was particularly gratifying that some of the guests and speakers returned to their former place of study, the Zittau/Görlitz University of Energy. Likewise, interested students and staff members from the university took advantage of the opportunity to participate in the control engineering workshop, thereby gaining a comprehensive insight into the tasks of an engineer in the field of energy technology.

This year’s control engineering workshop was led by Prof. A. Kratzsch (IPM) and Mr. F. Dräger (PreussenElektra). During the event, it once again became clear just how flexibly and reliably nuclear power plants respond to load-change requirements. In addition to the numerous presentations on reactor control, the results of current as well as previously successfully completed international research projects from recent years—carried out in collaboration with PreussenElektra and the university’s Institute for Process Engineering, Process Automation, and Measurement Technology, were presented in the form of lectures and posters. Furthermore, the safe, reliable, and low-emission operation of German nuclear power plants for the stabilization of the German and European interconnected grid was highlighted.

In addition to the highly interesting presentations in the university’s Senate Hall, the Zittau Power Plant Laboratory at the Stadtwerke Zittau GmbH site—featuring the three large-scale test facilities: the Magnetic Bearing Test Facility (MFLP), the Thermochemical Test Field (TCV), and the Thermal Energy Storage Facility (THERESA). Following this, the guests toured the university’s Energy Technology Museum.

The 7th Control Technology Workshop underscores the good collaboration between PreussenElektra, AREVA, and the IPM, thereby making an important contribution to preserving knowledge and expertise in the field of nuclear safety research.

The participants agreed to continue their good collaboration. Particular emphasis is placed on further expanding expertise in control engineering at the Zittau university campus. The results of these efforts will then be presented at the 8th Control Engineering Workshop.

Author: M. Eng. Christian Vogel/IPM