Capula generates improved safety at Drax Power Station

A STAFFORDSHIRE firm has helped to improve site management at the UK’s largest and most efficient coal-fired power station.

Staffordshire-based Capula replaced an obsolete site management system at Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire with a modern SCADA solution.

The new system will ensure the safe movement of trains on-site and the supply of fuel to the facility.

The new system was built into the materials handling control system, which Capula had recently installed, as well as being interfaced with the existing Solid State Interlocking rail system.

Roger Turner, Capula’s Chief Executive, said: “The process involved reverse engineering the previously written bespoke code and thorough offline testing via a simulator. In addition, we replicated existing screen visualisations to ensure a seamless changeover.
“As a long term control and operational IT systems partner to Drax, our intimate knowledge from previous key projects made us an obvious choice to deliver this solution.”

George Eccleston, Senior C&I Engineer at Drax, said: “Capula’s efforts have openly demonstrated its ongoing work qualities, which are contributing towards the success of Drax.”

The Drax Power Station has six 660MW generating units producing around 4000MW of electricity, which represents 7% of the UK’s total requirements.