Instrumentation & Control and Computer Design Engineering
Analysis, design, and modernization of monitoring and control systems including integration of new technologies, advanced monitoring capabilities, and best practices.
Our Global Team
Canada
Marcy Sanderson
VP, Strategic Growth and Innovation, CanadaInstrumentation & Control and Computer Design Engineering Overview
Instrumentation and Control (I&C) Engineering and Computer Design Engineering (CDE) are branches of engineering that study the measurement and control of process variables and the design and implementation of systems that use them. They are an essential component in the operation of a power plant's systems.
Throughout a generating plant, there are various parameters that need to be detected and measured including temperatures, fluid velocities and levels, pressures, and even radiation flux. Sometimes these parameters are reported in places like the control room on various indicators. Sometimes they are critical inputs to other processes with significant safety implications.
I&C and CDE are very dynamic fields of engineering and are experiencing the rapid deployment and adoption of new and emerging technologies that are further enhancing safety and design.
We help you modernize and upgrade your systems with new optimized, provenance-affirmed, cyber-secure approaches that lead to improved reliability, better control, and lower costs of ownership.
Why Our Instrumentation & Control and Computer Design Engineering?
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Fully Supported
Instrumentation and control is integral to almost all systems within a power plant and requires both specialist expertise and the engagement of other engineering disciplines. Our team includes experts in cybersecurity, heat and fluid flow, radiation detection, and many other disciplines.
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Full Range of Services
We offer a full range of services to support you including, the preparation and implementation of technical specifications, calibration specifications, instrument uncertainty calculations, procurement, testing, and quality-assured software design, configuration, and design documentation.
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Provenance Affirmed
I&C systems are prone to counterfeiting and fraud. Our approved supplier list gives us access to a wide range of cost-effective components with traceable provenance.
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Safety Related Systems
Our safety-related systems are designed with full consideration of potential common cause failures, human factor issues, and cybersecurity.
Our Instrumentation & Control and Computer Design Engineering Technical Abilities
Control and Monitoring Systems Design
Our I&C engineering team has executed work for many national and international customers. We have a wealth of experience with processes, procedures, systems, and equipment including:
- Special Safety Systems like Shutdown Systems (SDS) 1 & 2, Used to Stop/Slow Reactor Core Reactions in Response to an Emergency Event
- Reactor Regulating Systems (RRS) that Control and Monitor the Reactor Core
- Neutronic Instrumentation to Measure Flux including Ion Chambers and Flux Detectors
- Upgrading and Designing Control Consoles, Main Control Room Devices, and Control Computers/Devices
- Primary Heat Transport (PHT), Emergency Coolant Injection (ECI), Feedwater, Steam Generator, Turbine, and Generator Systems
Digital Systems Integration and Modernization
We offer a full suite of engineering services for the modernization and digitalization of control and monitoring systems used in safety-related and balance-of-plant application including:
- Conversion from Analog to State-of-the-Art Digital Control, Monitoring, and User Interface Systems & Process Instrumentation
- Identification of Suitable Digital and Smart Device Replacements for Obsolete Analog and Previous Generation Digital Equipment and Components, such as Field Installed Sensors, Indicators, and Controllers
Software Design
We configure software in line with Quality Assurance (QA) requirements and other applicable standards.
- Software Categorization and Identification of Software Quality Assurance Requirements
- Software QA Documentation Commensurate with Requirements of CSA N290.14 including Development (Digital Hardware Requirements, Software Requirement Specification, and Software Design Description) and Testing (Unit & System Integration Test Plans and Test Reports)
- Software Configuration Management Documents such as Software Release and Software Maintenance Documentation
- Digital Equipment and Software Qualification Assessments of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Products in Accordance with CSA N290.14
Engineering Modification Packages
Analysis and implementation of hardware and software solutions.
- Preparation of Technical Specifications, Instrument Uncertainty Calculations (IUC), Instrument Calibration Specifications (ICS), and Instrument Device Specifications (IDS)
- Configuring Alarming, Annunciation, and Process Tie-Ins to the Main Control Room and Other Systems
- Preparation of System and Modification Design Requirements, Equipment Specifications, Input/Output (I/O) List, Design Bill of Materials, Commissioning Requirements, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Modification Change Packages Consisting of:
- Cable Block Diagrams
- Logic Diagrams
- Wiring Diagrams
- Network Architecture Diagrams
- General Arrangement & Layouts
Value-Added Solutions
Our staff have a wide variety of skills and experiences including:
- Cybersecurity
- Completing Assessments
- Implementing Mitigating Measures in Compliance with Standards (eg. CSA N290.7)
- OEM Digital Platforms
- Programmable Single Loop Controllers
- Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)
- Distributed Control Systems (DCS)
These digital platforms enable the preparation of software requirements and customized software development specific to your needs.
Our in-house team of human factors engineering specialists provide input to our design engineers for Human Machine Interface (HMI) specifications and development.
Where We have Succeeded
- Control and Monitoring System Upgrades and Replacements
- Safety System Monitoring Computers (SSMC)
- Boiler Feedwater and Condensate Control System
- Primary Heat Transport Feed, Bleed and Relief Control System
- Standby Generator Control System
- Generator Health Monitoring System
- Domestic Water Plant Control System
- Process Control Instrumentation
- Flow/Level/Pressure Transmitters
- Process Controllers
- Control Room Instrumentation and Indicators
- Neutronic Instrumentation
- Ion Chamber Amplifiers
- Flux Detectors
- Radiation Monitoring Instrumentation
- C-14 Monitoring System
- Gaseous Fission Products (GFP) Monitoring System
- Containment monitoring and Button-up System
- Software Qualification Assessments (various digital components)
- Medical Isotope Production System – Controls
Our Proven Experience
Quality Assurance & Technical Standards
- CSA C22
- Canadian Electrical Code
- CSA N290A Series
- Standards for Reactor Control Systems, Safety Systems, and Instrumentation
- IEC 61508 (2010)
- Functional Safety of Electrical / Electronic / Programmable Electronic Safety-Related Systems
- IEC 61513
- Nuclear power plants Instrumentation and control for systems important to safety General requirements for systems
- OESC
- Ontario Electrical Safety Code
Key Clients
Kinectrics I&C and Computer Design is a reliable partner for our capital projects ranging from process instrumentation to safety-related process control modifications and securely integrating digital control systems. We rely on Kinectrics for emergent outage and operational issues requiring design engineering support and always trust their ability to mobilize for emergent work and deliver design packages on critical path.
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