The All Russian Scientific & Research Institute for Nuclear Power Plant Operation (JSC VNIIAES - part of nuclear utility Rosenergoatom) is shipping a full-scale simulator (PMT) to the Akkuyu NPP in Türkiye after completing comprehensive tests. The PMT is designed for training, licensing and maintaining the qualifications of the personnel operating the NPP control panel. It comprises exact copies of the unit and backup control panels of Akkuyu unit 1 integrated into a single software and hardware complex with a full-scale mathematical model of the unit.

“The full-scale simulator for the Akkuyu NPP meets all Russian and international standards and was developed at our institute without using any foreign codes for modelling, based on a well-established and completely Russian design system,” said Viktor Chernakov, VNIIAES Deputy Director & Director of the Department of Mathematics Modelling and Simulator Building.

Using the same technology, VNIIAES created and operates full-scale simulators for units 1-4 of Russia’s Kalinin NPP, units 3&4 of the Rostov NPP, unit 4 of the Beloyarsk NPP, and units 1&2 of the Leningrad-II NPP.

In the summer of 2022, the PMT and analytical simulator (AT) for Akkuyu NPP were assembled, debugged and submitted to comprehensive tests at a specialised VNIIAES test site with the participation of technologists from Akkuyu NPP. After that, as part of the first stage of acceptance tests for the PMT/AT, all seven operational shifts of the control room for Akkuyu 1 underwent pilot training. The shifts included both experienced Russian nuclear scientists and Turkish specialists who had been trained at Russian universities. In the course of this training, the control room staff, who will soon have to manage the Türkiye’s first NPP developed the skills needed to control the unit during normal operation and in emergency situations.

At the end of the pilot training, the PMT was dismantled, placed in 99 special packages, and is now bring sent by a convoy of nine trucks to Türkiye for the Akkuyu NPP training centre. The trip, including a sea voyage will take about 15 days. Later in May, an analytical simulator will be sent to the Akkuyu NPP in the same way.

The Akkuyu NPP will eventually host four Russian-designed VVER-1200 reactors. Completion of unit 1 is expected in the third quarter of 2023. Rosatom is constructing the reactors according to a build-own-operate model. To date, the project is fully funded by the Russian side. However, Rosatom has the right to sell a share of up to 49% in the project to other investors.