Rosatom says the automated process control system installed at Leningrad II unit 2 is ready for hot tests on the reactor equipment. Hot tests mark the final stage of pre-commissioning work on a reactor unit.
Leningrad II in Sosnovy Bor (Image: Rosatom)
The Russian state nuclear corporation will use the new automated system to monitor the condition of the equipment most important to safety, including the reactor, steam generators and main circulation pumps.
"We are ready to provide testing of the unit under conditions close to operational," said Anatoly Chikov, deputy head of the thermal automation and measurement department at the plant, which is in western Russian.
Rosatom said its Generation 3+ VVER-1200 reactors are distinguished by the high degree of automation involved. They are "smarter", it said, with each unit containing about 10,000 sensors. During the hot tests, these sensors will provide operators with information on, for example, the temperature, pressure, level and flow rate of the coolant.
The existing Leningrad plant site in Sosnovy Bor has four RBMK-1000 units, while Leningrad II will have four VVER-1200 units. Leningrad unit 1 was shut down for decommissioning on 21 December last year. Leningrad II unit 1 was connected to the grid on 9 March 2018, becoming the second VVER-1200 reactor to start up, following the launch in 2016 of Novovoronezh unit 6.
