The manufacturer of the reloading machine is CJSC "Diakont" (St. Petersburg). The representatives of the manufacturer assured that all the planned activities within the framework of the acceptance tests were successfully completed.
The commission checked and accepted all design and operational documentation, and also checked the machine directly in operation.
The simulator has been upgraded with additional protection systems, which are not even available on existing machines. For example, the interference protection device makes the work of the operator, who is just learning to operate the transfer machine, as safe as possible.
A machine designed for handling fresh and spent fuel is installed in the central hall. The simulator is capable of performing 23 operations. Their number and characteristics are absolutely similar to those of a real power unit. The control system is equipped with a modern technical complex, including video surveillance. On the simulator, personnel will be able to learn nuclear hazardous operations associated with refueling and practice their skills.
The simulator is interesting in that it is able to duplicate all typical operations associated with refueling. This is very important for training new staff and maintaining qualifications. The National Center has the ability to disassemble the equipment. There are no barriers to maintenance. The personnel will learn to perform these tasks professionally, smoothly, without unnecessary risks, which will have the most positive effect on work in real conditions.
It is interesting that the variety of programs allows you to work on the simulator and in the simulation mode, performing all operations on the disabled mechanisms. And only after passing the tests, the operator will be able to proceed directly to the movement of the cassettes.
During the acceptance tests, the representative of "Diakont" demonstrated the operation of the reloading machine in automatic mode, how the cassette is removed from the spent fuel pool and moved to the reactor at a given coordinate.
There is no analogue of a simulator for this type of reactor anywhere else. “We are confident that the simulator will be actively involved in the work and it will be an invaluable help in training and supporting the qualifications of not only ZNPP employees, but also representatives of other nuclear power plants in Ukraine,” said Vyacheslav Alekseevich Tishchenko, General Director of ZNPP.
The radiation background in the area of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant corresponds to natural values and as of August 15 is 8-12 μR / hour. Emissions of radioactive substances into the environment do not exceed the established permissible values.
Zaporizhzhya NPP is the largest energy facility in Ukraine and Europe with an installed capacity of 6,000 MW. ZNPP operates 6 power units with a capacity of 1 million kW each. The first power unit was commissioned in 1984, the second in 1985, the third in 1986, the fourth in 1987, the fifth in 1989, and the sixth in 1995. Since 1984, the contribution of the Zaporizhzhya NPP to the country's energy sector has increased from 2 to 22%.