Seismically Qualified Instrument Cubicles At Dungeness B

Project Overview

Client: EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd

Location: Dungeness B

Supporting EDF’s Commitment to Safe, Reliable Generation

Modernising safety-critical instrumentation is an important part of nuclear plant lifecycle management, and the challenge is often delivering new equipment that meets stringent safety and quality requirements while integrating with existing systems and planned outage schedules.

AMS Nuclear designs and builds bespoke instrumentation solutions that combine seismic qualification, long-term reliability and practical maintainability, with full traceability and documentation to support ongoing plant operations.

At Dungeness B (EDF Energy), the Boiler Lifetime Improvement Programme required new instrument cubicles to support three key boiler protection systems: the Automatic Boiler Depressurisation System (ABDS), Boiler Overfeed Protection System (BOPS) and Safety Relief Valve Isolation System (SRVI). Drawing on their experience in safety-critical EC&I engineering, AMS Nuclear designed, substantiated, manufactured and tested 16 bespoke instrument cubicles to EDF’s CTS-214 Class 2 requirements, working under QA Grade 2 controls.

Delivered ahead of programme, the cubicles incorporated seismically qualified designs, segregated instrumentation and comprehensive lifetime records, supporting the station’s operational requirements through to 2028 and defuelling activities through to 2033.

Designing a Solution Built for Precision and Performance

EDF’s challenge was to replace the existing instrument cubicles for three key systems: the Automatic Boiler Depressurisation System (ABDS), Boiler Overfeed Protection System (BOPS) and Safety Relief Valve Isolation System (SRVI) with a modern, fully qualified design.

Each system plays a crucial role in the station’s protection strategy, relying on accurate pressure and flow measurement to support automated control logic. The new cubicles had to meet stringent requirements for Class 2 safety-related equipment, incorporating redundant channel segregation, environmental qualification and lifetime substantiation to 2033.

AMS Nuclear’s role was to take full responsibility for the design, build, substantiation and testing of 16 instrument cubicles, while maintaining alignment with EDF’s established engineering and quality assurance framework.

A Collaborative Engineering Approach

AMS Nuclear developed a bespoke, right-first-time design that balanced technical rigour with practicality. Each cubicle was substantially re-engineered to meet EDF’s performance expectations, seismic withstand requirements and human-factors guidance for ease of operation and maintenance.

The design incorporated:

Segregated compartments to isolate system channels and maintain redundancy.
Welded stainless-steel manifolds and process pipework for long-term integrity.
Nuclear-qualified instrumentation, including GE Unik 5000 pressure transmitters, Delta Controls 201 pressure switches and Rosemount 3152KD differential transmitters.
Ergonomic layouts that simplified calibration, inspection and maintenance access.

AMS Nuclear worked closely with EDF’s design authority and quality teams throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring every engineering decision aligned with the site’s operational and safety case requirements.

EDF’s specifications leave no room for interpretation. We built in rigour from the start - every weld, test and document was traceable to the highest standard.

Engineering Manager, AMS Nuclear

Delivery with Assurance and Accountability

From the outset, AMS Nuclear took responsibility for delivering a complete, quality-assured solution. The project followed a structured lifecycle from concept to completion:

Design and Substantiation: Full engineering analysis and documentation produced to EDF’s CTS-214 Class 2 standard.
Manufacture and FAT: Fabrication under controlled conditions, with witnessed Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) to verify compliance.
Quality and Documentation: Delivered under QA Grade 2 with complete Lifetime Records Packages (LTRPs).
On-Site Integration Support: Engineering input provided to EDF installation teams during commissioning preparation.

All 16 cubicles were delivered ahead of programme, enabling EDF to align installation with its planned statutory outage and maintain its generation schedule.

SRV Discharge in the AMS Nuclear workshop

Enabling the Future of Safe Nuclear Operations

The Dungeness B project demonstrates how AMS Nuclear combines technical expertise with disciplined delivery to solve complex engineering challenges. Through collaboration, precision and a commitment to right-first-time outcomes, AMS Nuclear provided EDF with a dependable, compliant and long-term solution – strengthening the integrity of one of the UK’s key nuclear assets.

Our approach is always about ownership. From design and substantiation through to manufacture and delivery, we make sure every detail meets the client’s specification and regulatory expectations.

Project Lead, AMS Nuclear

Delivering a seismically qualified cubicle solution to support long-term reactor operation