A Moscow-based SNIIP-SISTEMATOM company has set up an automated system to control the neutron current in reactors of the 3rd and 4th power units at Bogunitse nuclear power plant (Slovakia). The new control system has been developed using Russian made SCADA/HMI software TRACE MODE 6.

The information system provides the following features:

• real-time data acquisition and history logging for the neutron current physical parameters;
• protections control;
• alarm reporting on protections status;

An intuitive TRACE MODE 6 based HMI helps the Bogunitse nuclear power plant operators in following:

• to view the real time data easily (HMI);
• to make logs of analog and digital signals in the SCADA TRACE MODE built-in database (without using external databases);
• to navigate the logged data using trends and alarm reports;
• to convert data archives for the set time period to the open format for creating protocols and graphs in MS Excel.

The system is based on industrial Pentium M 1.8 and 15” LCD workstation WS-855A from ICP Electronics with a pre-installed SCADA TRACE MODE runtime software RTM+. The RTM communicates with I/O via OPC server. 

The overall system cycle for the nuclear power plant control system is within 100 ms, meeting the technical requirements for this class of systems.

The Bogunitse nuclear power plant has deployed this control system  rapidly within the nuclear power plant equipment upgrade program. To ensure quick and quality execution of the project, the SNIIP-SISTEMAATOM engineers had training on developing control systems using SCADA at the Authorized TRACE MODE Training Centre.

A similar project has been also developed for Mokhovtse nuclear power plant (Slovakia). 

As it is reported by Kola NPP official Web site, the results of plant's operation in 2003 have been summarized. The plant has achieved the best electricity production performance for the last 10 years - 9918.7 million kW-h. In 2003, the electricity generation plan has been fulfilled by 102%.

Let us remind you that in 2003 an ambitious recent project of the Unit No.1 modernization has successfully been completed at Kola NPP. Within the framework of this project,  the TRACE MODE based control system has been installed at the central dispatcher control room. As a result of modernization, the power plant has obtained a license issued by RF Gosatomnadzor for its further operation for the period of five years.

Kola NPP is the biggest electricity supplier for an industrial complex located at the Kola peninsula. Kola NPP supplies power to such big Kola peninsula enterprises as Severonickel, Pechenganickel, Kovdor mining and processing complex, Apatit Production Association, Kandalaksha Aluminium Plant. The most of these enterprises are also TRACE MODE users.

The new TRACE MODE  based project was implemented by the specialists of Kola nuclear power plant (Murmansk Region) in atomoc industry. It is the second case of the TRACE MODE launching at nuclear power plants.

The monotoring system of nuclear power plant units has been developed by specialists of VNIIEF-Volgogas (Sarov, Nizhny Novgorod Region) and for the first time implemented at the Kalininskaya NPP. The success of the first project has become the basis for subsequent implementations. At the present time, the TRACE MODE based project on Kola NPP is at the stage of commercial operation. Beginning from 2003-2005, it is planned to implement the monitoring system on three more power-generating units.

The project hardware part has been developed on the basis of Schneider-Electric and Omron controllers, TRACE MODE 5 RTMs are used on operator servers. The information archiving is carried out by a global register, one of the best high-performance process data acquisition systems in the industry branch. The report generation is performed by a TRACE MODE global documenting server.

This implementation also has another interesting result. The automation systems at all industrial enterprises located at the Kola peninsula are operated under the TRACE MODE control. The first  TRACE MODE based system in this region appeared at the Severonickel Industrial Complex (Monchegorsk, Russia) in 1998. Then it was implemented at Pechenganickel, Kovdor mining and processing complex, Apatite Industrial Complex, Kandalaksha Aluminium Plant and, at last, Kola NPP.

All above-listed enterprises are going to further develop TRACE MODE based systems.

Under the program of modernization in Russian nuclear industry, VNIEF Volgogas (Sarov, Russia) has developed a new TRACE MODE-based control system for the first power unit of Kalininskaya nuclear power plant (NPP). This system has been also equipped with Octagon System (USA) PC-based controller. The new control system was successfully launched in January 2002 and since that  it showed the stable and safe operation.

"The modernization resulted in substantial grows in reliability and in power output of the Kalininskaya NPP first unit" – informs the nuclear ministry press-center.

Now the 1-st power unit's attained 1020 MwtThe operating conditions are normal. The radiation level does not exceed the natural level.