Modernization and reconstruction of operating VVER units
ŠKODA JS's customer care activities do not end with the delivery and setting the equipment into operation. The modernization and reconstruction of the equipment gives the operators of nuclear reactors the security of continuous, reliable and commercially efficient operation.
At present, the Dukovany NPP Instrumentation & Control System Refurbishment Project (I&C system) which should extend the planned lifetime of the power plant until the year 2025 and maintain its safe, reliable and economical operation, is our most significant contract in this field.
The already-completed first phase of the project (so-called M1 and M2 Modules) involves replacement and upgrading of the instrumentation and control systems, which have a substantial influence on nuclear safety. The scope of the refurbishment includes a complete replacement of the original analogue systems with modern digital ones, implementation of a new complex post-accident monitoring system, replacement of sensors and cabling related to the replaced systems, modification of the main and emergency control rooms and general interconnection of the modernized systems with the current power plant equipment. The way of installation, strategy of testing and setting of the new system into operation are unique as until now any similar replacement of such important part of the I&C system of a nuclear power plant had never been applied in the world before. The implementation of the new instrumentation & control system was carried out in steps at all four VVER 440 units during the planned refuelling outages in the years 2002 – 2009 i.e. without any long term interruption of unit operation.
In September 2006, CEZ, a.s. put out a public tender for the Dukovany NPP I&C System Refurbishment of the remaining M3, M4 and M5 Modules. Several companies, including SKODA JS, were invited to submit their tenders. SKODA JS successfully completed the "qualification round and in 2007 submitted a tender which was, according to specific criteria, evaluated as the best in the last round of the competition. In early September of this year, SKODA JS was officially notified by CEZ that SKODA JS had won the contract.
The refurbishment of the I&C system, modules M3 to M5, includes the replacement of the control systems of the primary circuit (M3 module), the turbine (M4 module) and the secondary circuit (M5 module), including the supply of the superset diagnostic and information system. The work on the individual units will be performed during the scheduled refueling outages, just like in case of modules M1 and M2. This puts high demands on the coordination of all activities and the compliance with strict criteria for the assurance of quality of the performed work with respect to maintaining the required level of nuclear safety. Unlike the previous contract, the new M3 to M5 project will involve putting into real operation of the individual upgraded parts during each outage. The complete replacement of the systems in modules M3 to M5 on one unit will be performed during five outages. In 2016 the complete upgrade of the I&C equipment on all units of the Dukovany nuclear power plant will be completed.
Photogallery on the topic
Dukovany NPP – Instrumentation and Control system replacement – design...
Dukovany NPP – Instrumentation and Control system replacement
Dukovany NPP – Instrumentation and Control system replacement
Dukovany NPP – Instrumentation and Control system replacement
Dukovany NPP – Instrumentation and Control system replacement
Dukovany NPP – Instrumentation and Control system replacement
