EDF Energy Advanced Diagnostic Centre
Launched in 2007, this Centre is a strategic alliance between EDF Energy (formerly British Energy), the Institute for Energy and Environment and the Department of Mechanical Engineering. It delivers industrially focused research for the nuclear power industry, within four key areas:
- automated data analysis
- diagnostics & decision support
- modelling & simulation
- sensors & sensor systems
Primary drivers for the research have been on AGR (Advanced Gas Cooled Reactor) nuclear power plant lifetime extension. The AGR stations are in the latter stages of their operational lives. Replacement stations are in early stages of development, so there's a strong need to extend the operational lives of existing plants, provided it is safe to do so, in order to prevent a shortfall in energy generation.