SCORPIO-VVER Core Monitoring and Surveillance for VVER-440 NPPs
29th Symposium of AER on VVER Reactor Physics and Reactor Safety (2019, Energoland, Mochovce NPP, Slovakia)
core surveillance and monitoring
Abstract
Starting with 1972, twelve new VVER-440 reactor units were started to build on the territory of Czechoslovakia. Nowadays the 2 oldest units were already shutdown in Slovakia, 4+4 units are still operating at the territory of Czech and Slovak republic, and 2 units of VVER-440 V213 type are still under construction in Mochovce, in Slovakia.
To keep the unit’s operation safe and reliable, wide range of modifications and upgrades were performed. In scope of strengthening the reactor’s core monitoring and surveillance, at Dukovany NPP (1998) and at Bohunice NPP (2001) the original Russian VK3 computation system was completely replaced with an alternative advanced Core Monitoring and Surveillance System SCORPIO- VVER.
Nowadays the SCORPIO-VVER CMS presents a nuclear fuel type and fuel vendor independent, advanced reactor core monitoring system with an open and flexible framework, including the latest achievements in the fields of N/F and T/H for reliable and safe reactor operation with high efficiency of fuel cycle, and governing the know-how and knowledge of 5 European institutes with proven experiences with reactor operation.
Since the first installation the SCORPIO-VVER CMS system has a remarkable operating history and experience. More than 20 years of experiences at 6 units of VVER-440 type of reactors in two different countries helps to put the system to a very high level of usability and reliability. Even the SCORPIO-VVER is installed only on VVER-440 reactors, the development of VVER-1000 version is on the way.
During the upcoming period the system will be prepared to fully support the latest and most advanced PK3+ fuel assemblies loaded into Dukovany NPP reactors in 2023.