Development of automated radiation monitoring systems (ARMS)
Automated radiation monitoring system (ARMS) is an integrated system used at NPPs and comprised of the components for:
- radiation monitoring of nuclear plant systems (including the containment, fuel rod cladding, primary equipment), as well as water and gas-aerosol emissions
- continuous monitoring of flowrate, temperature, and air humidity in waste piping
- radiation monitoring of premises and equipment, input of measurement results into database
- personnel dosimetry monitoring using digital dosimeters, thermoluminescence dosimeters, and a whole-body counter
- contamination monitoring of the staff/transport entering/leaving CAA
- gamma-, beta-, alpha-, and neutron radiation monitoring by portable instruments, input of measurement results into database
- sample contamination monitoring by laboratory instruments, including beta-, gamma-ray spectrometers, input of measurement results into database
ARMS includes the following interconnected functional subsystems:
- automated radiation process monitoring subsystem (ARPMS)
- automated radiation environment monitoring subsystem (AREMS)
- automated radiation contamination subsystem (ARCS)
- automated personnel dosimetry monitoring subsystem (APDMS)
- automated radioecological monitoring subsystem (AREMS)
Each NPP power unit is equipped with a radiation monitoring panel that displays radiation parameter measurement results.
Depending on NPP operating conditions, the ARMS provides performance of the following functions:
- under normal operating conditions – receipt, processing, and displaying of information on NPP radiation environment compliance with the requirements of regulatory documents
- under design-basis accident conditions – receipt, processing, and displaying of information on safety-important parameters
- under beyond-design-accident conditions – receipt, processing, and displaying of information on gamma-radiation intensity in the containment
ARMS design for the Tianwan NPP provides for automated workstations for:
- shift radiation safety engineer and shift dosimetry technician
- radiation monitoring laboratory; maintenance and calibration service laboratory
- personnel dosimetry monitoring by thermoluminescence dosimeters
- personnel dosimetry monitoring using a whole-body counter
- NPP radiation safety engineer
The advantages of ARMS are that it:
- includes new-generation radiation monitoring instruments
- has all components needed for its autonomous operation and interfacing to external devices
- has a small number of equipment items
- allows for configuring any scheme of control and monitoring instruments when applied to the particular facility