Head of Department
Gábor Házi
Tel: +(36-1)-392-1122
Fax: +(36-1)-395-9293
E-mail: hazi.gabor@ek-cer.hu
The Reactor Monitoring and Simulation Department is focusing on the development of
- on-line core surveillance and analysis systems,
- noise diagnostics systems,
- process monitoring and plant information systems,
- nuclear power plant simulation systems,
- reactivity measurement systems,
- operator support and expert systems
to be applied mainly at nuclear power plants of VVER-440 type. The staff of the department consists of experienced reactor physicists, electrical and mechanical engineers, system and application programmers. Main references:
- VERONA core monitoring system (Paks NPP, Unit 1-4. + simulator)
- PAZAR reactor noise data acquisition and evaluation system (Paks NPP, Unit 1-4.)
- full-scope simulator (Paks NPP)
- process computer (Paks NPP, Unit 1-4. + simulator)
- Critical Safety Functions Monitoring System (Paks NPP, Unit 1-4. + simulator)
- ÁNEREM Refueling neutron monitoring and reactivity measuring system (Paks NPP, Unit 1-4.)
- SER-KK Radiation and Environment monitoring system (Paks NPP)
- CERTA VITA on-line information system (Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority)
Traditionally the Department is responsible for the development and maintenance of the VERONA core monitoring system, operated at all four units of the Paks NPP. The present version of VERONA is the result of a sequence of refurbishment projects aimed to create a system supporting reactor power increase, the application of new fuel containing burnable poison and the extension of the length of fuel cycles to 15 month. Another traditional R&D activity at our Department is the development of reactor noise diagnostic measurement methods, complete noise data acquisition systems and interpretation tools. Our Department was performing regular noise measurements at Paks NPP during the past 15 years, providing valuable information on the long term trends of core behaviour. The present version of the noise data acquisition and evaluation system (PAZAR) is the result of a five years development project aimed to create a new system supporting reactor power increase and service time extension. The Paks NPP full-scope simulator was developed by the Simulator Department in the eighties in co-operation with Nokia Afora (Finland). The full-scope simulator is an indispensable tool for training control room personnel and the Paks simulator was serving the plant with excellent results during the past cca. 20 years. The staff of the lab modernized the model system of the simulator at the begining of this century, a new, 3D core neutronics model and a new, nodal thermal-hydraulics model were installed.
The lab also contributed to the development of several technological informati systems, including the plant computer system of Paks NPP, where the Critical Safety Monitoring System was designed, developed and commision by our staff a few years ago.
The implementation of a new refueling neutron monitoring and reactivity measurements system (its hungarian acronym is ÁNEREM) using a new type of neutron detector was finished in 2020 in each unit of Paks NPP, significantly simplifying therefueling and startup process of the reactors.
The radioation and environment monitoring system of Paks NPP applies five different types of measurement stations. The system consists of more than fourty stations, which are placed arond the plant in a circle having 1.5 km radius. One of the conclusions of the stress-test performed after the events of Fukushima was that the resistance of these stations to earthquakes and station blackout needs to be improved. The design and implementation of the new stations is an ongoing work, and it is being done by our staff.
The CERTA (Centre for Emergency Response, Training and Analysis) VITA system, developed by our laboratory, maintains an online data link with the four units of Paks NPP and the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA). It collects and displays more then 500 selected data from each unit and from the full-scope simulator of the NPP. In 2015 further development of this system was started and successfully finished with the aim to extend the capabilities of CERTA VITA with the online monitoring of safety related measurement data of Budapest Research Reactor (BRR).
Our publications:
https://m2.mtmt.hu/gui2/?type=institutes&mode=browse&sel=institutes13011
The colleagues of the department
Gábor Házi – Head of department
Zoltán Dezső
Bernadett Fehér
Tamás Fogd
Csaba Horváth
Sándor Kiss
Sándor Lipcsei
Gergely Makai
József Páles
Beatrix Katalin Szabó
István Áron Vécsi
