AGEING technology from the early days of Hinkley Point B has raised £2,000 for charity after being given to the National Computer Museum, in Bletchley Park, near Milton Keynes, and to private enthusiasts.

PDP-11 computer systems were originally used to control the water flow through the EDF owned Hinkley site’s boilers and for plant monitoring purposes.

The boiler water flow control system was replaced about 14 years ago as part of a plant modernisation project and the displaced PDP-11 computer systems were retained as spares.

The remaining plant monitoring equipment has recently been retired as part of the defueling activities preparing Hinkley Point B for decommissioning.

When the spares were rediscovered as part of a clear out, useable materials were sent to other EDF power stations for use as spares for their equipment.

Hinkley Point B systems engineer Dave Roberts said: “The PDP-11 equipment provided the station with a successful and reliable means of controlling and monitoring the power station plant for many years, only being partially superseded when some of the equipment became obsolete and difficult to maintain.

“As the station approached the end of its operational life it was important to salvage what we could but also to make sure that this important part of Hinkley’s history was cared for appropriately.”

The team also approached computer museums and private computer enthusiasts in the UK who run old kit as a hobby to gauge their interest in some of the leftover PDP-11 equipment.

Some computing museums had PDP-11 exhibits and reported they could make good use of the retired kit as exhibits or as spare parts to keep displays in working order.

None of the PDP-11 equipment is manufactured today, so it was more difficult to obtain spare parts.

The museums and enthusiasts who took the remaining spares made a donation to Hinkley Point B’s corporate charity partner the Alzheimer’s Society.

Mr Roberts said: “It is good that we have found an opportunity for our equipment to be used to educate future generations of engineers through the UK museum network.

“This is a win for EDF, we redistributed valuable spares to our operational plants and a win for the Alzheimer’s Society who have received a few donations and a win for the museums and private individuals who will enjoy and safeguard this equipment well into the future.”

Hinkley Point B station director Nicola Fauvel said: “So much of what happened here at Hinkley Point B over our 50 years of nuclear operations has been catalogued and recorded.

“This equipment was part of the people and kit which enabled us to deliver for the nation so effectively and efficiently over that timeframe.

“It demonstrates our enduring legacy that new uses have been found for it and in doing so we have raised money for a valuable cause.”

Hinkley B closed three years ago after 46 years of generating electricity.

Last month, the station gave firefighting equipment it no longer used to a charity which expects to distribute it to countries including Albania, Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, and Paraguay.