News
Workshop with partners from the Korea Republic
The 2nd international workshop on the common Czech and Korean R&D project No TM02000039 „Examination and improvement of mitigation capabilities and strategies of operating PWRs and an APR series PWR against Design Extension Conditions“ was held from 15 – 19 November, 2021 in the Korea Republic. It was organized by FNC Technology Co., Ltd; Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. and KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School (KINGS). From the Czech Republic, a group of 5 experts from the TES s.r.o. company and 3 experts from the Brno University of Technology joined their Korean project colleagues. The participants discussed specific project issues regarding the phase 1, 2 and 3. The workshop contributed considerably to the strengthening of the mutual cooperation both from the point of sharing field expertise and experience and facilitating personal relationships between Czech and Korean project teams. TES and Brno University of Technology experts visited special technology facilities of the Korean companies playing a leading role in the Korean nuclear industry and research, especially laboratories of FNC Ltd, headquarters of KHNP, Research Institute of KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institut) and production factory of Doosan Industries&Construction. Last but not least, TES visited also Shin-Kori to see APR1400 unit in operation as well as the one under construction and also KINGS Institute (Kepco International Nuclear Graduate School). All Czech participants were very grateful to their Korean colleagues who, despite diverse Covid pandemic situation could organise such a good quality and interesting program which was perfectly planned in every detail and accuracy. We believe that professional and personal contacts as settled during the meeting will last on the completion of the project and formed a sound basis for the future cooperation.
All For Power Conference
The 15th Inernational All For Power Conference was held on 15th and 16th November, 2021 in the presence of the energy industry leaders from the Czech Republic and abroad. The conference focused on the development of the Czech and Slovak conventional and nuclear power plants in a global context, export of large industrial works and obviously the construction of new nuclear power plant units in the Dukovany NPP in the Czech Republic. The future of nuclear power was a widely discussed issue of the conference. Oto Marecek, the executive director of the TES, s.r.o. participated in two-day presentation programme introducing the TES company and its activities as a supplier of engineering services for the nuclear power plants. In his presentation, Mr. Marecek focused mainly on the service and maintenance of the NPP electrical equipment that is ensured by TES at both Czech nuclear power plants. He emphasised that regularly performed electrical equipment diagnostics is of an essential importance for the reliable, cost-effective and safe operation of the plant systems.
French-Czech-Slovak Summer School of Nuclear Engineering in Třebíč
TES together with other partners supported the French-Czech-Slovak Summer School designed for graduates, doctoral students or professionals in nuclear power engineering fields. The Summer School was held from August 30 to September 3, 2021 in Třebíč, not far from the Nuclear Power Plant Dukovany. It was organized by the West Bohemia University in Plzeň, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and scientific attachés from the French Embassy in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, aiming to promote knowledge on current NPP long-term operation issues. Among the topics covered, the lecturers addressed NPP ageing mechanisms, surveillance program or nuclear safety issues. Classes were presented by experts from the West Bohemia University Plzen, Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics (CIIRC Czech Technical University in Prague), French nuclear operator EDF and French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), ČEZ, a.s. and Slovenské elektrárne, a.s. As part of the program, the participants had an opportunity to visit the Nuclear Power Plant Dukovany.
South Korea strengthens partnership with Czech Republic in science and research. TES at Joint Working Group meeting on Czech-Korean R&D project.
KHNP CEO Chung Jae-Hoon and South Korea Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Moon Sung-Wook visited the Czech Republic on June 17 and 18, 2021. The mission aimed at conveying Korea willingness to strengthen and emphasise partnership of Korea and Czech companies and universities in a number of innovative fields in science and research, all in light of long awaited construction of 2 new units of NPP Dukovany. As part of the mission an on-line Joint Working Group Meeting was held on June 18 to overview a three-year Czech and Korean R&D project „ “Examination and improvement of mitigation capabilities and strategies of operating PWRs and an APR series PWR against Design Extension Conditions (DEC)” that is supported by Czech Technological Agency (TAČR) and Korea Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP). Partners from TES and KHNP confirmed successful results of 1st and2nd stage of the project and specified objectives for the following 3rd stage. Since restrictions against Covid-19 have recently been relaxed, all participants welcomed the opportunity to meet in person during next working meeting that will be carried out in November 2021 in South Korea.
Positive feedback from WANO Peer Review
Following recent WANO Peer Review at the Dukovany NPP, TES has noted very positive feedback for workers from the TES Electrical Service and Maintenance Department. WANO experts performed observation during periodic inspection of ELS automatics and 3min check runs of diesel generator operation carried out by TES workers Milan Kasarnik and Jiří Švestka. Both TES specialists were appreciated for professional performance and behaviour, perfect communication and cooperation with operators. They had been interviewed during and at the end of the inspection to clarify detailed questions of WANO observers. Professionally managed tests contributed to positive evaluation of the area and good results of the WANO inspection at the Dukovany NPP. The WANO Moscow Centre team composed of 25 representatives performed the fourth Peer Review to assess the Dukovany NPP operation. International experts inspected and evaluated 10 main areas assessing them against relevant current best practices. Special attention was paid to nuclear safety, operation, maintenance, radiation and fire protection, emergency preparedness as well as to organization of management or education and trainings.
TES presented the results of MELCOR code assessment for Severe Accidents against THAI HR-1 experiment at the NUSIM conference and EMUG meeting
The experts from TES attended Czech conference NUSIM and EMUG (European MELCOR User Group) Meeting. At both events they presented their results of MELCOR code assessment for Severe Accidents against THAI HR-1 experimental test performed on THAI Facility (Germany). Passive Safety Recombiner (PAR) model performance was assessed in severe accident conditions against HR-1 test data. PAR is a safety feature located in the containment of a nuclear power plant and it contributes to hydrogen removal in the containment. Hydrogen is produced during severe accidents and it is one of the most serious threats confirmed for example in frame of Fukushima Dai-Ichi accident. MELCOR code assessment was performed within Czech – Korean joint project „Examination and improvement of mitigation capabilities and strategies of operating PWRs and an APR series PWR against Design Extension Conditions (DEC)“ which is co-financed from TACR in frame of DELTA2 funding. A new in-house methodology for modeling PAR in MELCOR was developed and validated by the experts of Nuclear Safety Department of TES in the framework of above activities.
Joint R&D project of TES and Brno University of Technology with Korean partners – DEC mitigation strategies for PWR and APR GENIII+ reactors
The joint international R&D Project “Examination and improvement of mitigation capabilities and strategies of operating PWRs and an APR series PWR against Design Extension Conditions (DEC)” was launched in January 2021. The following partner institutions and enterprises from the Czech Republic and the Republic of Korea are participating in this project: TES Ltd and Brno University of Technology on the Czech side and FNC Technology Co., Ltd; Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. and KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School on the Korean side. The Project is co-financed by Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TACR) and by the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP). The strategies and capabilities for DEC mitigation of both participating countries are expected to be compared for operating nuclear power plants and GenIII+ series plant of APR design in frame of this Project. The review of latest legislation and regulatory trends on DEC, as well as benchmarking of computer codes and analysis methods is also expected to be performed as a part of this Project. The project builds on the long-term cooperation of TES s.r.o. with partners from the Republic of Korea in the field of nuclear energy and nuclear safety.
Complex analysis of the voltage and current of the switchgear input for monitoring of the powered device condition
TES s.r.o. in cooperation with the Brno University of Technology, the Department of Theoretical and Experimental Electrical Engineering, have been working on the project aiming to enable remote evaluation of the connected electrical devices, for example electrical motors, by measuring of the current and voltage waveforms at the power input of the switchgear. The use of the methods for measurement, signal processing, spectral analysis by the fast Fourier transformation and the MCSA analysis (Motor Current Signature Analysis) are used to fulfil above mentioned goals. Project outputs include methods and procedures for regular analysis of measured quantities and the innovation of the software for data analysis. The connected devices, such as large asynchronous motors, requires complex non-destructive diagnostic method of the technical condition which can be performed during operation without need of any interruption. The ability of data monitoring at the switchgear offers a potential for a significant increase of frequency of data measurement which improves the chances for early detection of the change or early stage malfunctions of the connected device. The innovation of the software tools for data processing of a wide range of connected devices is a key instrument for quick and effective detection of changes in measured quantities.
The Memorandum of Understanding between TES and KHNP signed
The next step in the development of further cooperation between TES s.r.o. and the South Korea company Korea-Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) is the conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding. The Memorandum was signed at the beginning of September during the visit of Mr Jae Hoon Chung, the KHNP President & CEO, in the Czech Republic. This act declares the intention of parties to support joint projects in the area of operation, service and maintenance, research and development and design and engineering of nuclear power plants. The Memorandum envisages joint participation in the construction of new nuclear power units in the Czech Republic as well as abroad.
TES activities at the NPP sites continue as scheduled under the strict preventive measures due to coronavirus pandemic
TES workers carry up in planned activities, despite difficulties caused by coronavirus pandemic. They fully comply with time schedule according to the requirements of our customer (ČEZ, a.s.) in the area of service and maintenance of the electrical and machinery equipment at the NPP Dukovany and NPP Temelín. ČEZ, a.s. has implemented many necessary measures ensuring continuing production and safe operation of both nuclear power plants. Some of them will definitely have a negative economic impact on our company. It is mainly the postponement or even cancellation of some works which in the short term do not significantly affect the operation or safety of the NPP. The reason for such changes is to reduce number of people working in the area of the NPP site. We face some other challenges. For example work overload of the key specialists, difficulties in commuting to workplace or limited number of people during meetings. There is necessary to keep distance and follow all administrative changes. We respect all the measures and strictly observe all the rules. The Unit 3 of the NPP Dukovany is currently undergoing planned outage, other units are at full operation. TES workers provide all standard activities regarding regular service and maintenance of the electrical equipment at all units. In particular, it is the maintenance of the diagnostic and monitoring system for the plant electrical equipment (MSE), transformer monitoring systems (MST) and other relevant subsystems. Our specialists at the Temelín NPP currently participate on the planned outage of the Unit 1.They provide service and maintenance, testing, diagnostic monitoring, measurements and analyses of the plant electrical systems. Among others, the most important works provided by TES during the outage is the inspection of the monitoring and diagnostic systems of turbo-generators, transformers and on-line monitoring system of the plant electrical equipment (NEMES).
