Archives: Проекти

Incinerator for burning radioactive-contaminated wood

Reduction of the amount of dry wood in Chernobyl exclusion zone (ChEZ) is aimed at reducing the risk of fires in the area and preventing radioactive pollution from the combustion products of radioactively contaminated wood.

Incinerator (boiler) is designed to burn radioactively contaminated wood in Chernobyl exclusion zone and for thermal power generation.

In the framework of the project, the existing modern wood burning technologies and technologies for treatment of radioactively contaminated ash and removal of contaminated combustion products from the flue gases were tested and implemented. The experience gained during the construction of the biomass incinerator will be used in the construction of other burning plants with higher performance. Energy obtained from burning dry wood will be used to power the existing local heating systems of ChEZ.

Incinerator for burning radioactive-contaminated wood is equipped with the system of dustless (dry) ash removal from the boiler and the system of dustless air-conditioning of radioactively contaminated ash.

This incinerator is the first one in Ukraine. It`s a demonstration project, as result of which more powerful boiling plants will be built.

Базова версія котла КВм(а) 2,0-01, встановлюваного в котельні (інсинераторі)

Within the TACIS project U4.01/03S in the period from January 2006 to June 2007, “Ukratominstruments” corporation has introduced a new modernized automated radiation monitoring system (ARMS) in Chernobyl exclusion zone.

ARMS fulfils functions of operational radiation monitoring of atmospheric boundary layer and consists of:

• GammaTRACER sensors with autonomous power supply for measuring EDR of gamma-radiation;
• SkyLINK system for automatic data collection from EDR sensors via radio-channel;
• sampling equipment for measuring radioactive aerosols concentration in the air – AURA-02 aeration devices;
• equipment for monitoring the activity of radioactive iodides, alpha- and beta-active nuclides in the real-time mode (aerosol monitoring post);
• meteorological station for forecasting  the progress of radiation situation;
• software for data collection and processing, equipment management, data storage and forecast of the radiation situation;
• external electronic display for demonstration in Chernobyl of EDR values at the ChEZ posts for ChEZ workers and visitors, crisis center equipment, satellite internet connection.

Features:

• unique SkyLINK wireless communication system with data transmission via independent radio-channel at the distance up to 100 km;
• GammaTRACER sensors: full autonomy, power supply from built-in batteries for up to 5 years, measurement memory up to 3 years.

Principles that lie in basis of the ARMS development (autonomy, self-descriptiveness, reliability, low operating costs) are of current interest not only for ChEZ, but also when creating other similar territorial and regional systems of radiation ecological monitoring.

Within the framework of the contract SIP05-3-001-15 with SSE «ChNPP» financed by EBRD, in February 2008 “Ukratominstruments” corporation put into operation the System of Teledosimetric Control which provides personnel radiation safety while performing works at the «Shelter» object and constructing the new safe confinement.

System provides:

• remote dosimetric control (measurement of equivalent dose rate (EDR) and equivalent dose (ED)) in the high radiation fields with the help of MiniTRACE gamma S100 dosimeters (measurement range: 0,01 – 100 mZv/hour);
• real-time informing of personnel performing radiation-dangerous works about exceeding the EDR and ED threshold levels via acoustic signals of different tonality and displaying measured data on the monitor;
• real-time informing of personnel that is located at the central post about the EDR value in the places of dosimeter location and warning about exceeding the EDR and ED threshold levels;
• communication of all dosimeters of the system with a central server via radio channel to transmit real-time measured data to the central server for operational control of the personnel exposure level to prevent overexposure; remote dosimeter diagnostic, early warning of the personnel regarding possible danger;
• establishment of threshold levels and dosimeter data readout through IR-channel at the central post;
• analysis of measured data, maintenance of measured data archive.

Features:

• pocket dosimeter with short response time on change of the EDR level, low-power jam-resistant radio channel with working range within the system up to 5 km, non-volatile memory and IR-channel;
• portable basic station allowing to deploy a network in the open territory;
• laptop-based data acquisition and processing center (central server);
• programmed thresholds on EDR and ED level, automatic mode change of data transfer when reaching estimated threshold value;
• real-time signaling about exceeding the levels on-site and at the central post;
• self-contained measuring data-base;
• self-diagnostic system embedded in each unit of equipment.

Advantages:

• gives possibility of operative administrative decisions making during carrying out of works with the purpose to prevent personnel overexposure;
• provides the operative centralized control of radiation safety during carrying out of works and integrity of the equipment;
• allows to conduct analysis and investigation of unclear situations both during and after control performance due to the automatic saving of data of the results of radiation control.

System includes:

• portable MiniTRACE-gamma S100 dosimeters-radiometers with SkyLINK-type radio transmitter with a capacity of 10 mW, that ensures data transfer at a distance up to 5 km from the ShortLINK receiving base station;
• ShortLINK receiving base station;
• software for processing and storage of radiation control results.
• In the System, the possibility of its extension is provided; that allows (if needed and with specified adjustments) to integrate within the System some additional MiniTRACE dosimeters and other devices in which SkyLINK-type radio transmitter is used.

Radioisotope instruments e.g. radioisotope density meters, thickness meters, level meters, gamma balance meters, gamma relays, etc. are widely used in the national economy. At present, within CIS countries, tens of thousands of these devices are used. Their main advantages are contactless, accuracy and reliability. The largest consumers of radioisotope devices are ferrous and non-ferrous metal enterprises (65%).

Commercially available radioisotope instruments and devices are conveniently classified according to their technological features. In accordance to this, all devices can be divided into three groups:

devices for the quantitative characterization of product materials;

devices for measurement and control of the quality characteristics of materials and products;

devices for control of the technological process behavior.

To solve the technological problems of the first group, the relay devices, level meters, flow meters, dispensers, and productivity meters are used. To solve the technological problems of the second group, the relay devices, volume weight meters, thickness meters, moisture meters, density meters and composition analyzers are used. To solve the problems of the third group, a chain of different radioisotope devices in conjunction with other instrumentation is most often used.

Ukratominstruments Corporation performs the integrated supply (design works, mounting, commissioning, putting into operation, certification and metrological attestation, personnel training, warranty and post-warranty service) of up-to-date equipment of leading domestic and foreign manufacturers for non-contact control of:

Humidity (with density compensation) of various loose media;

Density of various loose media, solutions and suspensions;

Level of liquids, solutions and loose media;

Thickness of rolled metals, structures and coatings.

Use of radioisotope methods and up-to-date technologies allows controlling the basic technological parameters operatively and with high accuracy, optimizing the systems of automatic control of technologic processes and guaranteeing high quality production.