Rusatom Automated Control Systems (RASU - part of Rosatom) is starting the active phase of the design of an automated process control system (ASU TP avtomatizirovannoi sistemi upravleniya tekhnologicheskim protsessom) for a low-power nuclear power plant (ASMM – atomnoi stantsii maloi moshnosti) with a RITM-200N pressurised water reactor. It is planned to be built in the village of Ust-Kuyga in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).
According to the head of the department for atomic energy use at RASU, Yuri Osetrov, the technology of the ACU TP for future ASMMs represents a synergy of new original approaches to the design, construction and time-tested technological solutions used as at Russian-designed NPPs and on the more modern Russian icebreakers.
Creating a reference ASMM is the most important task facing the nuclear industry today, according the RASU Director General Andrey Butko. “Since the project itself is innovative and unique, the systems and subsystems of control and management involved will also be special and individually developed. Design solutions aim to reduce the cost of the facility, reduce the time for the manufacture of ASU TP equipment and its commissioning, as well as to compactly place it at the station.” He explained that, for RASU, a new project means a new life cycle for ASU TPs, “so this is the beginning of a long journey on which we will undertake the process of construction and operation, and in the future improve and modernise the subsystems of power units”.
The RASU design solutions include plans to implement a set of measures to combine and optimise systems, use common platforms and integrate new developments. This will allow the equipment to be installed more quickly and efficiently without loss of functionality and reliability. In particular, the possibility of using the SCADA-R software platform as a top-level system is being considered. In addition, a single technical complex for monitoring and managing the electrical and energy equipment of the power unit can be using the innovative software and the hardware complex “Cluster”. This is due, among other things, to the requirements for compactness and modularity, as well as the reduced power of the ASMM structure compared with high-power NPPs.
“The beginning of the design of an ASU TP for low-power nuclear power plants is an important step in terms of implementing the ASMM construction project with an RITM-200N reactor in the village of Ust-Kuyga in the Sakha Republic. It is very important that these are Russian technologies and developments,” said Oleg Sirazetdinov, Vice President of low-power projects at RASU.
Systems and subsystems for NPP ACU TPs permanently ensure that the plant functions reliably and safely, that information is independently and centrally collected, that all kinds of parameters are recorded, and that detailed internal self-diagnosis takes place. Modern generation 3+ NPPs have developed, reliable, functionally complete and informative architectures for such systems. These are the primary reference for the creation of the ASU TP for the ASMM. A set of systems for each power unit is developed individually, taking into account long-term practices and expertise, as well as the most stringent requirements for nuclear, radiation, fire, information and computer security.
The first project of the construction of the AFMM Russian design based on the latest RITM-200 reactor installation implemented by RASU in Ust-Kuyga, is based on many years of experience in operating small reactors on ships of the Russian nuclear icebreaker fleet. The RITM-200N reactor installation is the result of the adaptation of innovative ship-based technology for ground-based placement as part of the ASMM power units. The ground-based ASMM is designed to provide energy to isolated energy systems or remote territories and consumers. It is distinguished by compactness and modality, a shorter construction period and high safety standards. Construction of the station will provide a stable and clean energy supply to the project for the development of the Kuchus gold ore deposit, which is one of the largest in Russia.
