Unique diagnostic systems introduced at Kola NPP

30.11.2007 // Information Department of Kola NPP

Unique diagnostic systems have been introduced at Kola NPP

International project under Rosenergoatom-SKI-Tecnatom (Russia-Sweden-Spain) contract is near completion at Kola NPP. The contract is part of the technical support of the Swedish Government and the contract between Rosenergoatom Concern and Tecnatom (Spain). The project consists of several stages. Since Nov 5 a group of foreign experts have been supplying and installing diagnostic systems, testing them and teaching local personnel how to use them.

The following systems are supposed to be installed under the project: remote eddy current detector, choke and kill system for steam generator heat-exchange tubes and system for supersonic testing of welded joints of steam generator collectors.

The director of the project Pablo Pineiro says that this is one of the biggest tube and steam generator control and maintenance projects Tecnatom specialists have ever been in. One of the most difficult points for the Spanish specialists was to meet the tough requirements of the Russian regulatory documents but they tried their best to do everything well.
 
The chairman of the acceptance committee-the head of the Materials Science Department of Rosenergoatom Concern Vladimir Lovchev said: “The steam generator control systems installed at Kola NPP are unique for our country. Kola NPP is the first in Russia and the CIS to have such equipment. The systems control steam generator collectors remotely by means of ultrasound, which will help Kola NPP to reduce its personnel exposure dose and to substantially enhance its safety.”

The work was supervised by Russian regulatory organizations. All the systems have been tested. The choke and kill systems were tested the first: jointly with experts from Vuje company (Slovakia) in July 2007. The eddy current detectors and supersonic control systems were tested twice: in Madrid and at Kola NPP upon delivery.

All the systems have been accepted. The specialists from SKI and Kola NPP congratulated their Spanish colleagues on the success of the tests and confirmed that the equipment was of very high quality.

Presently, the Spanish specialists are training operators. They have pointed out the high professionalism of the personnel of Kola NPP and their keen interest in having such systems.

The systems are supposed to be used for the first time in Mar 2008 during planned preventive repair.