COLUMBIA, Md., June 6 /PRNewswire/ -- GSE Systems, Inc. (Amex: GVP), a
leading global provider of real time Power Plant simulation and process
control solutions, working with the Ukrainian Electric Power Industry,
recognized completion of the Rivne nuclear power plant Unit 3 Simulator on May
18, 2001.
The $11.5 million simulator, a part of the U.S. Department of Energy's
(DOE) International Nuclear Safety Program, was built by GSE Systems with
Russian and Ukrainian subcontractors. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
was the overall project lead for the DOE.
DOE recognized completion of the Rivne nuclear power plant (NPP) Unit 3's
full-scope simulator as a major step toward enhancing nuclear operator
capabilities and significantly improving the safety of operations at the Rivne
plant.
"Training on this new simulator will advance the capabilities of Unit 3
operators and will lead to major improvements in the overall safety of the
plant," said Joe Cleary, project manager within the DOE's International
Nuclear Safety Program managed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. "It
has been most impressive to see the level of effort that Rivne plant managers
and operators have put forth to establish this new training tool."
Plant specific full-scope simulators, in use for operator training in the
United States since the 1970s, were not used at Soviet-designed reactors in
the Ukraine until 1993, when GSE delivered the first simulator to the
Zaporizhzhya NPP. A full-scope simulator uses full-sized physical replicas of
actual control room panels complete with equipment such as switches,
controllers, indicators, and recorders. Each simulator is designed to
replicate a specific plant control room and is used to train reactor operators
and supervisors on handling both normal and abnormal plant operations. This
particular full-scope simulator was designed for the Rivne NPP's only
operating 950 MWe VVER-1000.
"We're seeing significant payoffs already from the simulators in place at
various reactor plants," Cleary said. "It's our expectation that the new
Rivne Unit 3 simulator will make substantial positive impacts on plant
operations for the long run."
The Rivne 3 full scope simulator is the latest in a series of successes
sponsored by DOE in providing simulators for the Ukrainian Nuclear Power
Industry including Chernobyl; Zaporizhzhya Unit 5, Khmelnitsky Unit1; and
South Ukraine Unit 3. GSE is presently under contract to complete three
additional simulators in the Ukraine. South Ukraine 1 is scheduled for
completion in June of this year and Rivne 2 and Zaporizhzhya Unit 1 are
scheduled for completion in 2002.
Hal Paris, Sr. Vice President of Power Systems stated, "We are very
pleased with our efforts in Eastern Europe, where GSE Power Systems is the
preeminent developer of Full Scope and Analytical Simulators for Russian
Designed Reactors. Additionally, working with DOE has provided the Ukraine
tremendous improvements to the quality of training for its nuclear plants. We
are proud to be a part of these successes."
GSE Systems, Inc. develops and delivers business and technology solutions
by applying real time simulation, data acquisition and process control
software, systems and services to the power, process and manufacturing
industries worldwide. The Company's products are used in the following
industries: fossil and nuclear power generation, specialty chemical, food and
beverage, petroleum refining, pharmaceutical, metals and water treatment.
GSE Systems is headquartered in Columbia, Maryland with offices in Georgia,
Louisiana, Maryland, North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas, and
its global locations include offices in the Sweden and Japan.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks
and uncertainties. The actual future results of GSE Systems may differ
materially due to a number of factors, including but not limited to delays in
introduction of products or enhancements, size and timing of individual
orders, rapid technological changes, market acceptance of new products and
competition. These and other factors are more fully discussed in the
Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
To receive additional information on GSE Systems, Inc., via fax at no
charge, dial 1-800-PRO-INFO and enter ticker symbol GVP.
SOURCE GSE Systems, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.gses.com
CONTACT:
Gill R. Grady, Sr. Vice President for GSE
Systems, 410-772-3500; or general info, Maura Gedid, or analyst
info, Susan Garland, 212-661-8030, both of The Financial
Relations Board BSMG Worldwide
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