DSRL Alkali Metals Treatment Controls

​There are a number of DSRL site projects which require to dispose of alkali metals or remove alkali metal residues from components. To reduce the overall design time a set of common process skids are to be used for each of the projects. The alkali metals treatment skids are developed as part of the KNK/bulk sodium disposal project. With the Water Vapour Nitrogen/Superheated Steam (WVN/SHS) skid, Off Gas Skid and chiller units constructed and incorporated into various plants.
 
The WVN/SHS skid is a 30ft shipping container housing various components used to supply water, steam, superheated steam, WVN and nitrogen to the other process skids and the reaction vessel as required. The off gas skid is a 30ft high cube shipping container housing various components to treat the process off gas prior to discharge to the atmosphere via an authorised discharge point.
 
JGC Engineering (JGC) working for Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL) engaged Finesse Control Systems for the design, manufacture and testing of the main form 4 control panels for each skid, plus emergency shutdown panels for each skid. Eleven panels in total all successfully completed to DSRL’s exacting standards. The project delivery was scheduled in two phases of manufacture and test to suit the build schedule of the five treatment skids.
 
The Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) for Off Gas A, B, D and  WVN B, D panels together with the six Emergency Shutdown panels was extremely thorough and greatly enhanced with FCS proving the Fibre Optic communications between the Siemens PLC equipment (WVN Panel) and the Siemens remote IO and field device equipment DP/PA and Profibus PA Active Field Distributor (Off Gas Panel).