The EDF Energy Approach to Fuel Oil Management

24 June 2021 | 9:00 AM ET

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Webinar Description: 
On nuclear power stations most plant systems fuelled by gas oil are deemed essential from a nuclear safety perspective. All of these systems have inbuilt redundancy by design as they must have a high level of reliability and availability. Gas oil is a common feature across these systems and any inherent shortfall in its quality will have a potential to adversely affect the availability for some, if not all, of the associated fuelled plant items, which in the worst case, could deem an entire system unavailable. The nuclear safety consideration, therefore, focuses on the availability of a viable fuel whilst ever there is a potential for it to be required. It is essential to ensure that the procurement, supply, management and storage of gas oil is governed by robust mandatory specifications that are periodically reviewed to ensure that they remain current and relevant.  The problem for EDF Energy is that gas oil can be, and is, stored for periods into many years. Across its nuclear fleet there are a considerable number of storage tanks of different designs and located in a range of environments. Equally, the turnover of fuel within these tanks varies considerably dependent on the plant system. Consequently, it is essential that EDF Energy is aware of current environmental thinking and changing technology and the ability to assess any potential threat to safety related functions.  An overview of the EDF Energy approach to fuel oil management is described with particular focus on the process of reviewing industry-wide experience.

Presenter: Carl Atkinson, EDF Energy

Carl has had a wide and varied career working in the power generation industry for more than 45 years the majority of which has been in support of the UK’s nuclear power station fleet. As a member of the central chemistry function at EDF Energy he  specialises in a range of areas including seawater systems, ion exchange technology, activated carbons and liquid fuels, providing advice and guidance and setting standards. He has a first class Masters degree in chemistry and is currently conducting post graduate research towards a PhD with the University of Sheffield, England, in ion exchange technology.  He is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and is a Chartered Chemist and a Chartered Scientist.