Improvement of the control and minimization of the tritium and carbon discharge (14C) at the NPP power units operated by NNEGC Energoatom (U1.05/08 T5)

Recently, SE NNEGC “Energoatom” has significantly improved approaches to control liquid and gaseous RAW discharges and radiation control systems used on its sites. At the present time there is performed control on gaseous discharges of radioactive iodine, radioactive noble gases (RNG) and aerosols from power units and special chemical facilities.

At the moment of the project implementation the radiation control systems used at SE NNEGC “Energoatom” sites are not completely conforming to state-of-the-art international practice related to the monitoring of tritium and carbon-14 gaseous discharges through ventilation chimneys of power units and auxiliary buildings.

The overall objective of the project is the improvement of monitoring systems for tritium and carbon-14 gaseous releases and the reduction of tritium and carbon-14 discharges at all NNEGC “Energoatom” NPP’s power units. The implementation of the present project aims to provide integration of tritium and carbon-14 radiation analysis and monitoring system into the existing day to day radiation control system and reflect it in the respective procedures within the emergency response plans at ZNPP and in NNEGC “Energoatom”. This will let NNEGC “Energoatom” improve its safety management in the area of radiation control and emergency preparedness.

This project includes two lots.

• Lot 1 includes mainly the analysis of the best international and Ukrainian practices in the area of tritium and carbon-14 gaseous releases monitoring and discharges reductions techniques during normal and emergency situations. It includes also the development of Technical Specification for equipment purchase and strategy for radiation monitoring and tritium and carbon-14 discharges reduction for the Pilot Plant during normal operation. By Addendum 1 of the Service Contract the support to implement Lot 2 has been included.
• Lot 2 envisages the purchase of the equipment proposed in accordance with the Technical Specification, developed in Lot 1, and its supply to the pilot NPP (ZNPP) site. It will also include installation, commissioning and metrological certification of the equipment, and development of necessary documentation to put the equipment into trial operation.

The present project covered the supply of the Lot 2 equipment.

The scope of supply includes the specific design of the equipment, manufacturing in accordance with the agreed Quality Assurance Programme, development of the ‘Technical Specification for Supply’ document, certification in accordance with the Ukrainian regulatory requirements, support to licensing, performance of the acceptance testing, delivery to the site and the supervision of the installation, of the site acceptance tests and of the commissioning; furthermore, the provision of the design documentation, operating and maintenance instructions, training to the End User's personnel, maintenance support (after sales), all special tools and equipment for the normal operation and maintenance, spare parts (if purchased) and the warranty as per supply contract.

The equipment supply includes the sampling system and laboratory equipment

Sampling System

• Sampling System (Sampler) incl. (beside others) separate absorber cartridges for organic and inorganic 14C/3H, internal sampling bypass, “Pressure Stabilization” Function, buffer tank, converter oven with catalyser for oxidation of organic compounds of 3H and 14C, pumps, filters, valves, internal PLC controller
• Absorber exchange cartridge for sampling of oxidized organic 14C/3H
• Absorber exchange cartridge for sampling of inorganic 14C/3H
• Consumables e.g. molecular sieve, catalyser material for converter oven
• Equipment for routine operation of the Sampling Systems e.g. Aerosol Filter pads
• Equipment for commissioning, testing and maintenance
• Special tools and equipment
• Pipes and cables
• Spare parts

Laboratory Equipment

• N2 Generator
• Pressure Reducing Valve
• Air Flow meter
• Desorption Oven each incl. 3 Desorption Glass Devices
• Circulation Chiller
• Condensate Trapping Device (for HTO)
• Glass Washing Column
• Gas Sample/Feeding Bottle
• Membrane Vacuum Pump
• Laboratory Centrifuge
• Laboratory Drying Oven
• Activation Oven each incl. Desorption Glass Devices
• Water Purification Device
• Laboratory Consumables for sample preparation
• LSC Low Activity Liquid Scintillation Spectrometer including related accessories
• Equipment for routine operation and assembly of the Laboratory Equipment
• Equipment for commissioning, testing and maintenance
• Special tools and equipment
• Spare parts, tools and accessories

The Technical Specification for the project was developed in the framework of the service contract "Improvement of the control and minimization of the tritium and carbon discharge (14C) at the NPP power units operated by NNEGC Energoatom – U1.05/08T1 (Contract 239429)" and published under EuropeAid/132558/D/SUP/UA.
The contract with the supplier of the system NUVIA (Envinet), Czech was signed in December 2012.
a) Sampling System
The sampling system has been installed as followed:

• Two in different ventilation air streams at each of the six units (12 systems)
• Two in auxiliary buildings vent stacks

The equipment was installed by ZNPP under supervision of the supplier. Assistance and supervision of the project implementation was carried out by the On-site assistance team (contract U1.05/08T1 – 239429). The contractor performed the personnel training in connection with the installation of the equipment. The site acceptance test (SAT) was performed in November 2015 and the Provisional Acceptance Certificate (PAC) was signed on 18.12.2015. The Final Acceptance Certificate (FAC) was signed after expiration of the warranty period.
b) Laboratory Equipment
The laboratory equipment has been installed in a specific modified room at ZNPP. The equipment was installed by ZNPP under supervision of the supplier. Assistance and supervision of the project implementation was carried out by the On-site assistance team (contract U1.05/08T1 – 239429). The contractor performed the personnel training in connection with the installation of the equipment. The site acceptance test (SAT) was performed in November 2015 and the Provisional Acceptance Certificate (PAC) was signed on 18.12.2015. The Final Acceptance Certificate (FAC) was signed after expiration of the warranty period.
The achievement of this project is the continuous sampling and periodical analysis of the 3H/14C gaseous inorganic and organic releases of the relevant emission sources of ZNPP to the environment as well as is improving of the safety management in the area of radiation control and emergency preparedness at ZNPP.