Novovorenozh NPP is the first industrial NPP with VVER-reactors. NVNPP international activity has a splendid history and traditions. Novovoronezh NPP has always been ‘the smithery of employees’ for other nuclear plants of the USSR and foreign countries having the NPPs constructed in Russia (26 power units in 13 countries). 

Within many years NV NPP has been efficiently collaborating with IAEA. IAEA representatives’ first Novovoronezh 

NPP visit was registered on April, 2, 1986. For the period from 1972 to 2002 annual evening courses of IAEA inspectors on the program of nuclear materials guarantees, control and account were traditionally held on NV NPP basis.  For the period from 1985 г. to 1991, 5 NV NPP power units are under IAEA guarantees, in course of which 38 checks with 86 inspectors from different countries participation were organized 

A number of IAEA missions on the safety analysis (ASSET, OSART missions, project analysis, consulting and controlling missions) aimed at the substantiation of opportunity of prolonging 3 and 4 NB NPP power units resources were organized at 3-4 NV NPP power units.

 

NV NPP specialists regularly take part in seminars, conferences and IAEA programs of collaboration organized in different countries of the world.

From the very beginning of WAO NPP (World Association of Organizations operating NPPs) organization, Novovoronezh NPP intensively participates in this organization activity: NV NPP specialists continually took part in  WAO NPP partner checks in different countries of the world and as well various seminars organized by WAO NPP, At Novovoronezh NPP 4 WAO NPP partner control, numerous seminars and missions of technical support, allowing to solve the essential problems of NV NPP power units operation, were held. NV NPP took part in exchange visits with DUL NPP in Belgium, Indian Point NPP in the USA and Gundremmingen NPP in Germany in course of TWINNING WAO NPP program.

Since 1990 Novovoronezh NPP has taken part in the International Program of Nuclear Safety (IPNS) financed by Energetic Department of the USA. As a part of this program a complex of symptom focused emergency instructions for NV NPP power unit 3 was developed and implemented and the training on these new instructions implementation was conducted in NV ETC, the organization structure of BCP operating staff of NV NPP power units Nos. 3 and 4 was changed. 

• The project was developed, a portable pomp unit (PPU) was produced and delivered to NV NPP PPS for accidental water supply  at NV NPP power units Nos. 3 and 4 in case of an off-project accident with coolant losses.

• The system of safety parameters presenting (SSPP) was developed and implemented at NV NPP power units, first – at power unit No 3, then – at power unit No 4 and later – at the fifth unit of NV NPP.

• Technical conditions have been developed, analytic simulator for operating personnel training was produced and implemented in NV NPP educational and training center.

• From1996 to 1999 at NV NPP ETC the project of the commitment of educational technologies of operation staff training and certification was successfully realized.

• From 1997 to 2002, 3 stages of the project “Configuration Management” with computer equipment supply, creation of a net and data base on NV NPP equipment was realized. 

• The project NOVISA on the development of statistically distributed units Nos. 3 and 4 safety analyses and the participation in in-depth security assessment, successfully realized with the assistance of Argon National Laboratory, was tense and very active on the quantity of the meetings held and their participants, on NV NPP personnel involvement as well. As the project result, PSA of the first level on the inner and limited volume of external events was developed for NV NPP units Nos. 3 and 4, taking into account the events of these unit reconstruction and modernization. By means of collaborate efforts of the USA and Novovoronezh NPP experts, the Manual on power units Nos. 3 and 4 UOB form and content was worked out.

Beginning with 1985, NV NPP regularly participates in the International Program of Collaboration on nuclear plants safety management financed by Japanese government. For the recent years NV NPP have received 12 Japanese delegations. During the visits such questions as deactivation while decommissioning, full-scale simulator for NV NPP ETC development, the experience of public relations, employees training, operation personnel working conditions, NPP security assurance, safety culture, human factor, were discussed. 10 specialists of NV NPP visited Japan within the limits of the program.

Novovoronezh NPP takes an active part in the realization of SWISRUS project between Gosatomnadzor of the Russian Federation and HSK, Swiss supervisory body, on the development of PSA for NV NPP fifth power unit. At present, PSA of the first level, on inner and foreign affairs is developed.

Direct double-sided collaboration of NV NPP and foreign partners: Loviisa NPP (Finland), Panli NPP (France), Gundremmingen NPP (Germany) is worth special attention. 

The collaboration with Loviisa NPP for the purpose of experience exchange on NPP power units with VVER-440 reactors operation and repair began in 1973.

Within the 19 years of the Agreement of Collaboration realization the specialists exchanged with valuable information concerning the experience in operation, repair, modernization and reconstruction of the equipment, measures on security improvement, NPP operation life prolongation, the problems appearing in the process of operation and scheduled preventive maintenance, the decisions on their removal taken. The experience of fuel operation, reactor housing annealing, operation shifts organization, works on the improvement of turbines capacity are also the topics of vivid interest for both the plants.

The experience exchange is especially important for both of our plants due to VVER-440 power units similarity and the similarity of the technical problems appearing at them. Thus, in March of 2007 a mission of HLV NPP technical support on the essential for NV NPP questions of the corrosion products formation on the fuel provided with a specialist of Loviisa NPP, where there is an experience of such formations minimization fight, taking part, was held at NV NPP. 

The collaboration with Gundremmingen NPP started in January, 1993, within the program of TWINNING HLW NPP. In course of 15 years of the collaboration the specialists exchanged the information important for operation and repair, personnel training, security improvement, partner NPPs power units operating life prolongation. Gundremmingen NPP specialists’ reach experience in power units decommission definitely contributed to the solution of the questions on dismantling and deactivation of the equipment on NV NPP power units Nos. 1-2. While preparing for HLW NPP Partner Check at NV NPP in 2004, the German colleagues shared their experience in such an event organization that served a good example for NV NPP specialists.

Direct bilateral collaboration between NV NPP and Panli NPP has been perfromed since 1993. The work of special importance within all these years was the joint work of EDF, Rosenergoatom Concern OJSC, Panli NPP and Novovoronezh NPP on the project of “The repair organization during the scheduled shut down of the power units” of REA-EDF Resolution. The initiative of the project development appeared in the context of direct relations. The project under consideration was realized at NV NPP power unit No. 5 in the period from 1995 to 1997 allowing our plant to perfect the methods of organization and planning of repair works and the collaborate works planning on the stages of SPR preparation and organization. Within the project, modern computer equipment and Project View program product, allowing improvement of the level of planning and SPR schedule forming significantly, and provide more efficient interaction of all the repair participants, was supplied to Novovoronezh NPP.

One more project that was further realized by PROTEM, the French company, was TACIS project: production and supply of a machine for processing of the bearing area of the VVER-440 and VVER-1000 reactors main connector and as well Novovoronezh NPP personnel training for this machine operating.

At present, the most essential program realized as a part of international collaboration for NV NPP, is the TACIS program. A number of events is included into the program – from operation manuals development to full-scale projects involving the construction of security building at power unit No. 5

For NV NPP TACIS began in 1993, so we can speak about our 15-year working experience within this program. NV NPP was a participant of research programs, and since 1996, the first industrial project appeared at NV NPP. Without penetration into the details and the reasons analysis, it is necessary to admit that TACIS programs have been really “revived” since 2000.

• Sealing rubber for the elements of pressurized volume;

• Replacement of ISP PG of power unit No.5;

• Diagnosis system reconstruction at power units Nos. 3, 4 (two contracts);

• Spare parts for power units No. 5 fixtures;

• Materials and equipment for fire safety improve.

• Encapsulating materials for cable driftage;

• Level regulators of the fifth unit steam generator;

• Projects on the stage of implemetation;

• Spare parts for diesels;

• Spare parts for fixtures.

We should pay special attention to the so-called large-scale projects TACIS - 2000.

In 1998, Commission of the European Community took the decision to change the concept of work financing performed within the framework of the TACIS program on the Russian NPP safety improvement.

• The concept of safety improvement at NPPs with VVER-1000;

• “Security problems and their ranging for the NPPs with VVER-1000 of “limited series” (the project of IAEA report WWER-SC-202)”;

• PSA-1 of power unit No. 5 on the inner  IS;

• License No. GN-03-101-0014 from 19.01.98 for power unit No. 5 operation.

• Emergency feed water of power unit No.5;

• Total budget on this project – about 6,000,000 Euro.

This project is new for all the participants, and we have to work out optimal approaches, to obtain the experience directly in the working process.

1. Performance of works on preliminary project planning (PPP);

2. Performance of industrial projects (PIP).

The РРР stage provides preparation of Projects Finance Estimation, Technical specifications for open tender and as well accompanying documents, provided by CEU and license procedures.

• “Technical Solution on Modernization” is issued and approved by Russian Gosatomnadzor;

• “Technical Assignment on Engineering” is issued and approved by Russian Gosatomnadzor;

• “Projects Finance Estimation”, including preliminary project engineering, is issued. On the document basis CEU ratified the volume of the project financing;

• Technical Specifications for the System are prepared;

• Technical Specifications to the Equipment are prepared.

Open international tender was held and due to its results the contracts on the equipment supply were signed. 

CEU decision on the reorganization of TACIS programs management appeared to be of great significance. Self-consistent policy and all the parties’ efforts on management and correlation models optimization resulted in the creation of Project Management Groups/Work Coordination Groups at the final users’ site. Work concentration and what is more, responsibility, at the level of the Final User and its consultant makes the current problems and strategic ones as well solution much easier, allowing to plan the activity in a more detailed way.

In March 2003, a starting meeting of TACIS 2000 project participants was held at Novovoronezh NPP. In fact, that was a starting meeting opening the work of PMU/WCU at our plant.

It was done much for PMU/WCU started working at the highest capacity.

It is necessary to note the prominent role, played in our work by the Consultants. In fact, this is the connecting link between the Final User and CEU. Their active position and involvement into the Final User business allow represent our interests in CEU in a qualified way.

At present, Novovoronezh NPP consultant is the syndicate of IBERDROLA (Spain) and TVO (Finland) companies

One of the branches of TACIS activity at NPPs sites is so-called “soft support”.

Events, connected with experience, knowledge and know-how exchange, are provided as a part of “soft support’. 

• Development of symptom focused instructions and emergency instructions for unit No. 5;

• Cleaning of the deposits of FRA (fuel rod array – power units Nos. 3,4);

• Increase of power unit No. 5 pressurized volume density;

• Radioactive wastes management;

• Operation and repair risk monitoring;

• Human factor.

The works on all the subjects of the “soft support” have been initiated and are being carried out successfully.