New monitoring network for fuel cycle plant
18 April 2013A radiation and chemical atmospheric monitoring system has been set up in and around Russia's uranium enrichment Electrochemical Plant, Zheleznogorsk, Kursk Oblast, Russia.
About 60 fixed and five mobile autonomous remote sensors distributed around the site monitor gamma radiation or certain (unnamed) chemical compounds in real time. They transmit readings to a central receiving station via radio antenna, which links them to a wide area radio system.
Signals from chemical sensors are integrated into the monitoring network via a universal telemetry platform. A 13-node extension to the system was under way in January 2013.
Data received can also be quickly shared with the Russian government's regional ministry for emergencies. This short-range monitoring network connects to other nuclear and non-nuclear highly-significant facilities in the region via a long-range (100 km) data network.
The Zheleznogorsk system (shown below) was installed in phases starting from 2010. Some sensors and the network were supplied by Genitron Instruments, a subsidiary of Saphymo. Other partners include Ishevsk State Technical University and Soyuzatompribor. The system complements radioactive and pollutant monitoring around other areas of the plant (see table). A similar system was supplied to the Chepetsk Mechanical Plant, Glasov, Udmurtia, and also the Kursk, Kalinin and Balakovo nuclear power plants in Russia.
