In implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between Belarusian and Slovak specialists in Power Industry, one more students’ Internship was organized by STM POWER, a.s. The Internship was carried out in the period from 11.06.2018 to 22.06.2018 in the Slovak Republic in cooperation with Slovenské elektrárne, a.s (SE, a.s) at the Nuclear Power Plant Mochovce (Mochovce NPP).
The students’ group included six 4th year BNTU students of the Thermal Power Plants Department (Power Engineering Faculty) of the specialty 1-43 01 08 "Steam-turbine units of Nuclear Power Plants" and four 3rd year BSUIR students of the specialty 1-39 03 03 "Electronic Instrumentation and Control Systems of Physical Installations".
The group of BNTU and BSUIR students with certificates of the Internship (the final meeting)
The tasks of the Internship are consolidating, systematizing and practical application of the theoretical knowledge obtained in the University. The developed program of the Internship includes lectures, presentations, practical exercises and technical excursions.
In the main the Internship took place directly at the Mochovce NPP, and the special preparation was required: theoretical - safety instructions, and practical - electronic passes, protective helmets and glasses, protective clothing and footwear.
The Mochovce NPP with Soviet-designed VVER-440 reactors began to be built on 13.10.1983 by the USSR. Units No. 1-2 were put into operation in 1998-2000. Units No. 3-4 with modified VVER-440 reactors was laid back in 1987 yet currently being completed by the Italian company Enel.
View of the Mochovce NPP 1-2
BNTU students in front of the Mochovce NPP 1-2
During the Internship, students studied the organizational structure of The Mochovce NPP, technical characteristics and features of the main and auxiliary equipment of the first (Nuclear Island), the second (Turbine or so-called Conventional Island) and the third (Technical Water Supply) NPP circuits; peculiarities of NPP operation.
The Mochovce NPP includes the following departments: Safety (B0100), Work Management (B0200), Nuclear Training (B0100), Operation (B1000), Maintenance (B2000), Plant Engineering Support (B3000), Operation Preparation Unit 3-4 (B4000).
During the Internship great attention was dedicated to the issues of Safety Culture and Nuclear Safety Oversight, Radiation Monitoring and Protection at NPP (department B0100 - Safety). The tasks and functions of the World Association of NPP Operators (WANO) also were considered.
The peculiarities of Work Management on NPP during operation time (On-line Management) and during idle time (Out-Age Management) were studied at department B0200 - Work Management.
During the visit to the full-scale simulators of the Mochovce NPP students investigated functions of main panels as well as the peculiarities of the operators training (department B0100 - Nuclear Training).
The Internship in the department B1000 - Operation was devoted to study of the second circuit equipments and systems (units No. 1-2) operation, as well as operation of the NPP auxiliary equipments and systems, for instance Technical Water System and Emergency Diesel Generators.
To visit the Reactor Hall, students passed the sanitary inspection with full radiation monitoring at entrance and exit of the first circuit of working units No. 1-2.
During the technical excursion on the construction site of the Mohovce NPP 3-4 (department B4000) students could explored equipments and systems which are closed for visiting on the running NPP: the Nuclear Island with the main and auxiliary equipment.
Turbine hall – Mochovce NPP 1-2
Controll Room – Mochovce NPP 1-2
Dosimetric control
Re-fuelling at Mochovce NPP 1-2
Reactor shaft with the reactor pressure vessel
Thermal insulation of unit 3 primary circuit
In accordance with the Internship Program students visited the National Radioactive Waste Repository “Mochovce” of JAVYS, a company fully owned by the state. The purpose of JAVYS is the final storage of solid and solidified low activity radioactive waste (RAW) from the operation and decommissioning of NPPs as well as from research institutes, laboratories and hospitals, from all over the Slovak Republic
The Internship Program was supplemented by a visit to the Bohunice NPP - another operating NPP of the Slovak Republic.
First Bohunice Nuclear Reactor A1 was suffered a major accident during refueling on 22.02.1977. This reactor is currently undergoing a decommissioning and cleanup process. Bohunice NPP V1 with two VVER-440 units was shut down at 2006-2008 and is currently undergoing a decommissioning as well.
Bohunice NPP V2 has two units with VVER 440/V-213 pressurised water reactors, which were commissioned in 1984-1985. The NPP V2 changed to combined generation of electricity and heat after building up the centralised heat supply system from Bohunice NPP to Trnava in 1987.
Dismounted cooling tower of V-1 NPP
BNTU group in front of the Buhunica NPP
In conclusion, let to note that the Internship was held at a high level. The gained up experience and knowledge will be very valuable in the educational process and will find important national economic applications in Energy Sector – during the operation of the Belarusian NPP.
Kachan S.А., Associate Professor of the Thermal Power Plants Department
