List of new developments:

1. Steam Flow Measuring System
   
2. Technical Proposals on Enhancement of Efficiency of Heat–and–power Engineering Equipment Operation
   
3. Development of Resource–saving Equipment
   
4. Complex of Sample Pretreatment and Control of Chemical Parameters of Operating Environment of the VVER NPP Secondary Circuit
   
5. Complex of Sample Pretreatment and Control of Chemical Parameters of the Primary Coolant of NPPs with VVER Reactors
   
   

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Steam flow measuring system

      The JSC «EREC» Laboratory of Separation and Hydrodynamic Processes in steam generating equipment of NPP was involved in the development of the measuring system used for continuous measurement of steam flow rate in steam pipelines of VVER-1000 units. The system is used in the information channel with display of indications on the main control room (MCR) and in the automated control circuit of water leveling in steam generator (SG).
      At present, the system of automated water level control in SG of VVER-1000 power units involves input signal on generating steam rate. The signal is conditioned according to indirect parameter – temperature drop of the primary circuit at the SG inlet/outlet. This method for determination of generating steam rate has a sufficient drawback – that is its sluggishness becoming apparent in transient conditions.
      To improve water level control in SG of VVER-1000 units in steady-state and transient conditions, the system of direct free of inertia measurement of steam flow rate in the steam pipelines after SG with the use of pneumometric tubes of special design and current correction unit considering steam pressure variation was developed at JSC «EREC». Similar measurement system is used in foreign NPPs.
      Principles of pressure distribution along the fixed rod surface, streamlined with turbulent crossflow of medium, are in the basis of the physical method of flow rate measurement. Maximum pressure area is appeared in the «frontal» zone, and in the «stern» zone – area of reduced pressure. Pressure difference between the frontal and stern zones of the tube exceeds twice the velocity head of incident flow that discriminates it favorably from other types of pneumometric tubes.
      The pneumometric tube is installed in the steam pipeline at a distance 0,25xR from the wall, where there is the average metering flow velocity. With that, as applied to the VVER-1000 unit conditions, the distance from the pipeline wall to pressure sampling is 72,5 mm. With the tube diameter 18 mm, that ensures its rather high strength and vibration characteristics.
      Pneumometric tubes advantage as compared with other measuring tools is in their constructional simplicity, high erosion resistance and lack of irreversible losses in measuring of steam flow rate
      At the present time, this measuring system has been already undergone trial operation at Balakovo NPP Unit 3 and demonstrated its effectiveness.
      The system’s characteristics make it possible to use the system not only in the flow rate calculation scheme in the steam pipelines of VVER-1000 units but also of VVER-440 and RBMK-1000.

Technical Proposals on Enhancement of Efficiency of Heat–and–power Engineering Equipment Operation

      The JSC «EREC» Laboratory of Heat-power Engineering and Ecology is involved in the development of technical solutions on enhancement of efficiency of industrial equipment operation including TPP and NPP equipment.
      The laboratory developed a technical solution on updating of the ejector refrigerating systems (ERS) used for maintaining of the prescribed characteristics of inner air in the facilities. This technical solution has been applied to Balakovo NPP. The laboratory developed also new setting of jet devices PEM (nozzles of main and backup ejectors). The modernized nozzles with fillet of setting instead of previously installed nozzles with the simplified two-cone setting were proposed. The nozzles manufactured at the JSC «EREC» production base were tested successfully and now are operated in Balakovo NPP Unit-1.
      When the new-designed PEM had been operated at Balakovo NPP there was made a decision to introduce new nozzles to all 4 units.
      The batch of new nozzles was manufactured and installed at PEM of Bolgodonsk NPP.
      The laboratory proposed the parking corrosion protection of NPP turbine condenser tubes. The engineering proposal was based on the method of tube thermal drying from the side of cooling water to remove residual moisture. The proposal has been applied at Bolgodonsk and Balakovo NPPs.

Development of Resource–saving Equipment

      The JSC «EREC» Laboratory of Heat-power Engineering and Ecology is dealing with the development and introduction of fuel- and resource-saving equipment that may enhance reliability, cost efficiency and environmental safety of industrial and power generating facilities. The laboratory deals with the development of gas burners and acoustic-mechanical sprayers with adjustable flame, the performance of thermo-technical balance and condition-setting testing on the fuelburn equipment. This equipment is developed and manufactured in compliance with the terms and requirements of concrete Customer (fuel flow rate and pressure, flame aperture angle, overall and add dimensions).
      Minimum pressure of liquid fuel is 0,2 MPa, of spray agent (steam, air) is 0.2 MPa. 
      Acoustic-mechanical sprayers FAM with adjustable flame parameters (length, shape) are designed for technological and industrial furnaces, steam and hot-water boilers, drying devices and other fuelburn equipment. Main difference of acoustic-mechanical sprayers from available ones is the possibility to control the length and shape of the flame in constant thermal power of the burner. The developed sprayers have been applied to boilers DKVR, DE, BKZ, GM, PTVM, KGVM. To solve the problem of effective masout burning in water-hot boilers equipped with burners RGMG, the laboratory reconstructed the masout part of the burner as follows: acoustic-mechanical sprayers were installed instead of rotary ones in order to achieve qualitative burning of heavy oil fuel. Before delivery the sprayers are subjected to individual calibration on pneumohydraulic test facility.
      Gas burners GRF with adjustable flame parameters (length, shape, brightness) are designed for technological and industrial furnaces, steam and hot-water boilers, drying devices and other fuelburn equipment of different branches of industry. Main difference of the developed burner GRF from available ones is the possibility to control the length, shape and brightness of the flame in the course of operation in constant thermal power of the burner.
      The laboratory deals with the performance of thermo-technical balance and condition-setting testing on different fuelburn equipment of power and industrial enterprises (boilers, furnaces) with the issue of operating chart of the equipment.
       Fuel economy as a result of the introduction of equipment and as a result of IDH is 1-5%.

Long narrow flame (a_ф=25–30°)



Interim flame (a_ф=75–90°)



Short wide flame (a_ф=170–180°)

Calibration of sprayer FAM-400 on pneumohydaulic test facility

Complex of Sample Pretreatment and Control of Chemical Parameters of Operating Environment of the VVER NPP Secondary Circuit

      The JSC «EREC» Laboratory of Organization, Control and Diagnostics of NPP (TPP) Water Chemistry developed the system of sample pretreatment and measurement (SSPM) of chemical parameters of technological aqueous medium. The system was developed jointly with PKTI «Atomarmproject» and manufactured by JSC «Zavod Staroruspribor» (Staraya Russa) and JSC «Engineering Corporation «Splav» (Veliki Novgorod).
      SSPM is used for preparation, supply and analysis of process aqueous medium samples (temperature up to 350°C, pressure up to 30 MPa) in «on-line» condition in the systems of automated chemistry control (ACC) of the secondary water chemistry of VVER NPPs, TPP as well as boilers, systems of water treatment for chemical industry.

SSPM boards	SSPM frames

The use of SSPM allows as follows:

• to reduce substantially costs of establishment and maintenance of ACC systems due to removal of boards for secondary converters and registering instruments, cable paths, etc.;
  
• to enhance reliability of ACC operation, to reduce noises and area of premises for location of the ACC system due to application of rational lay-out solutions;
  
• to exclude human factor effect.

      At present, SSPM (boards and frames) are operated on Kalinin NPP Unit 3. Instrumentation boards – on Volgodonsk NPP Unit 1.
      The JSC «EREC» offers to use SSPM at building and modernized NPPs in Russia and abroad.

Complex of Sample Pretreatment and Control of Chemical Parameters of the Primary Coolant of NPPs with VVER reactors

      The JSC «EREC» Laboratory of Organization, Control and Diagnostics of NPP (TPP) Water Chemistry jointly with PKTI «Atomarmproject» developed the design documentation for the complex of sample pretreatment and control of chemical parameters of the VVER NPP primary coolant (SPC-1).
      SPC-1 is used for preparation, supply and analysis of coolant samples under «on-line» condition in the systems of automated chemistry control (ACC) of the primary water chemistry of NPP with VVER reactors.
      Domestic prototypes of SPC-1 are not available.

SPC–1 Functions

      The SPC-1 anticipates sequential preparation of sample prior to its supply to analyzer detectors with implementation of the following functions:

• reduction of initial pressure, cooling and control of sample temperature;
• control of sample flow rate;
• primary and fine purification of sample from mechanical admixtures;
• measurement, indication of measured results and transformation to generic outlet analog current signal 4-20 mA of measured components concentration;
• measurement, indication of measured temperature, pressure and sample rate, pressure difference on fine filters (FF);
• transfer to the remote user of the analog current signals of concentration of controlled parameters and signals «Failure»;
• blowing of hydrogen to the system of hydrogen after-burning.

      The SPC-1 elements are the elements of normal operation important to safety and referred to class 3N according to NP-001-97, group C according to PNAE G-7-008-97 and category II of seismic resistance according to NP-031-01. Power of SPC-1 is supplied from one-phase alternating current line with voltage 220 V (+10%; -15%) and frequency 50±1 Hz.