BCP Engineers Bring Dassault Systèmes’ DELMIA Software to Xcel Energy’s Monticello Nuclear Plant
DELMIA Used for Mechanical Systems Modification and Installation; Dassault Systèmes Achieves New Milestone in Power Industry
Auburn Hills, Mich., USA, June 26, 2008 – Dassault Systèmes (DS) (Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, and BCP Engineers & Consultants, one of the world’s premier nuclear engineering firms, today announced that Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL), a U.S. operator of nuclear power plants, has used DELMIA solutions to help facilitate the modification and installation of its mechanical systems.
Xcel Energy operates two Minnesota commercial nuclear sites, Prairie Island and Monticello, which together provide approximately 1,700 megawatts of electricity. The Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant uses DELMIA, specifically DELMIA DPM Assembly, Human Builder, and Human Task simulation for planning and simulation efforts related to critical mechanical system upgrades in support of an extended upgrade to the plant’s power generation rate. These solutions are directly used to optimize scheduling, planning, and installation, thereby reducing plant downtime.
BCP Engineers & Consultants and Dassault Systèmes are working with Xcel Energy’s Monticello plant to plan and schedule its General Electric Zinc Injection Process (GEZIP) mechanical system-installation project. Industry experience has shown that use of the GEZIP system has resulted in a substantial reduction of radiation dose to workers during boiling water reactor outages worldwide. A key challenge for the commercial nuclear industry is the installation of new systems or modification to existing systems. Additionally, with very tight outage schedules, it is critical that the transfer, movement, installation, and connections such as the GEZIP system occur within committed work plans and schedules. It is also imperative that there be nosurprises or impacts on dependent activities or other resources during the installation or maintenance processes.
“This was a pilot project in Xcel’s efforts to perform a series of plant modifications and upgrades in support of an extended power uprate at Monticello,” said Darrel Turner, project manager, BCP Engineers & Consultants. “The use of this 3D technology to build the GEZIP model and simulations has proven practical and effective, and has potential to support a variety of projects at nuclear plants. Industry feedback has been excellent.”
Both DELMIA and Dassault Systèmes’ virtual design solution, CATIA, were used to develop a plant model for simulation scenarios to install the GEZIP mechanical system. This simulation capability optimizes the scheduling, planning, and installation processes resulting in reduced outage time and improved schedule adherence.
“A capability that sets us apart from our competition is that we can optimize virtually any capital project’s construction or maintenance activity via DELMIA with tight integration to standard scheduling solutions like Primavera,” said Al Casas, senior executive account manager, DELMIA, Dassault Systèmes. “Clients can optimize time and resources, and perform safety planning in a virtual environment prior to any physical activity beginning. With projects like Xcel Energy’s, where downtime costs can be very expensive, an optimized construction schedule enabled by DELMIA is invaluable.”
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About BCP
BCP, a New Orleans-based engineering and management consulting firm, addresses the needs of capital intensive industry decision-makers across the United States and around the globe. BCP provides its specialty services to clients who generate electric power from conventional and nuclear power plants, the petro-chemical industry, industrial and manufacturing, and construction services.
About DELMIA
DELMIA is a premier brand of Dassault Systèmes for digital manufacturing solutions, focused on two unique software applications that can be used to streamline manufacturing processes. DELMIA Automation provides solutions to digitally design, test and validate the control of a machine, workcell, or entire factory line and DELMIA PLM provides the process and resource capability to enable continuous creation and validation of manufacturing processes as related to the product throughout the entire product lifecycle. DELMIA serves industries where the optimization of manufacturing processes is critical, including automotive, aerospace, fabrication and assembly, electrical and electronics, consumer goods, plant, and shipbuilding sectors. Information about DELMIA is available at
http://www.delmia.com.
About Dassault Systèmes
As a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, Dassault Systèmes brings value to more than 100,000 customers in 80 countries. A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systèmes develops and markets PLM application software and services that support industrial processes and provide a 3D vision of the entire lifecycle of products from conception to maintenance to recycling. The Dassault Systèmes portfolio consists of CATIA for designing the virtual product - SolidWorks for 3D mechanical design - DELMIA for virtual production - SIMULIA for virtual testing - ENOVIA for global collaborative lifecycle management, and 3DVIA for online 3D lifelike experiences. Dassault Systèmes is listed on the Nasdaq (DASTY) and Euronext Paris (#13065, DSY.PA) stock exchanges. For more information, visit
http://www.3ds.com
CATIA, DELMIA, ENOVIA, SIMULIA, SolidWorks and 3D VIA are registered trademarks of Dassault Systèmes or its subsidiaries in the US and/or other countries.
Dassault Systèmes Press Contacts:
Derek Lane (DS Americas)
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