Replacement of the station data logger at Hunterston B nuclear power station

After 10 years of operational use the hardware maintenance of the original station data logger was becoming a major concern and a number of separate developments had taken place to overcome its lack of extension capability. The decision was taken to procure a replacement for the logger to embrace its original functions, the separate developments in online reactor management calculations and turbine start-up and efficiency operator aids, and to introduce computer displays to assist the operator in reactor/boiler optimisation at full power. The logger also provides safety related monitoring and interlock functions for the advanced gas cooled reactors at Hunterston B power station. The authors discuss the changeover strategy for installation of the new data logger. The authors then briefly describe the new data logger which consists of three parts: a redundant system for replicated functions, nonredundant systems for additional functions, and an offline processor/live spares facility. The contract strategy, software lifecycle, and lessons learnt are discussed