Hydrometeorological monitoring in the Nizhny Novgorod NPP siting area

Ensuring the technological and environmental safety of nuclear power plants (NPP) involves the collection and analysis of data on the state of the natural environment near nuclear power plants, including the atmosphere and surface waters. To obtain and organize such data, as well as for their subsequent processing and engineering calculations, appropriate monitoring observations are provided. The latter begin to be carried out long before the start of NPP construction and continue at all stages of the NPP life cycle, including the periods of construction, operation and decommissioning of the plant. The purpose of this research is to summarize the results of hydrometeorological monitoring at the Nizhny Novgorod NPP site and its vicinity, which was launched by the Scientific & Industrial Association Gidrotekhproekt in 2011. The description of stationary observation points and examples of calculation of regime hydrological and meteorological characteristics are given. It is noted that the accumulation of observation data series over a long period of time, which make it possible to identify potential climate changes in the study area, is of great importance

Assessment of natural and technogenic conditions of the area of the water-supply system upgrade in Dudinka (Krasnoyarsk Region, Russia)

Territories of the subarctic forest-tundra of Taymyr are characterized by an insufficient state of exploration of their natural conditions. Another feature is vulnerability of natural landscapes to man-made impacts. Along with this, the increased public attention to preservation of the ecological status of these territories necessitates detailed studies of environment components during construction activities. This work is devoted to the geoecological substantiation of the water-supply system upgrade in Dudinka (Taimyr Dolgan-Nenets Autonomous District of the Krasnoyarsk Region, Russia), considering specific natural conditions of the sub-arctic forest-tundra and technogenic impacts of the upgrade project. This work describes primary results of engineering and environmental surveys, which provided necessary and sufficient basic data. It was established that due to a localized nature of technogenic impacts during environmental activities, the combined impact of technogenic factors is insignificant and will not cause environment degradation. A set of recommendations and proposals for environment protection and ecological monitoring organization was developed

Data bases of aerological wind observations for industrial and civil construction

Due to extensive construction of high-rise buildings and structures, wind load calculations are becoming more and more important. These calculations require availability of credible wind data at the altitude of the atmospheric boundary layer and associated databases. This work is devoted to development of a framework for such databases, aimed at solution of various wind engineering tasks. Main principles for wind aerological observation database development for industrial and civil construction were established. Examples of wind characteristics and atmospheric dispersion characteristics are provided on the basis of radiosonde and SODAR/RASS observations. Prospects for development of similar databases for atmosphere pollution monitoring, wind power engineering, aviation are reported

Assessment of interannual and intra-annual atmospheric dispersion variability parameters in the Belorussian NPP siting area

Identification of atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) radionuclide dispersion conditions, which are characterized by ABL dispersion parameters, plays an important role in evaluating the radiation safety of nuclear power plants (NPPs) and establishing engineering protection thereof. Therefore, the ABL status monitoring observations are launched at the stage of in-situ NPP construction. When analyzing and predicting radiation situation in the NPP vicinity areas, it is of great importance to determine the parameters of atmospheric dispersion variability with time. The ABL status monitoring at the Belorussian NPP site has been carried out since September 2014 by means of acoustic and radio-acoustic sounding of the ABL. The present study is aimed at assessing interannual and intra-annual variability of atmospheric dispersion parameters in the Belorussian NPP siting area on the basis of the monitoring data. The relative interannual stability of the main average annual atmospheric dispersion characteristics (vertical temperature gradient, wind speed and direction) over the observation period has been revealed. At the same time, the average seasonal values of the dispersion parameters are characterized by significant fluctuations thereof during the annual course. The prospects of the ABL status monitoring for other potentially hazardous industrial facilities, such as thermal power plants and chemical plants, are also noted

Some prospects for the use of ash and slag wastes of coal power plants for production of building materials

Coal-fired thermal power plants (TPP) generate large amounts of ash and slag wastes (ASW), therefore ecological problems related to ASW storage and disposal for such power plants come to the fore. To obtain new data on ASW properties analysis of a number of ASW samples from ash dump No. 4 of Cherepet’ TPP was carried out as part of engineering surveys. The purpose of this study included determiantion of the ASW granulometrical and mineralogical composition, as well as their physical and chemical properties. During field works 4 ASW samples were taken from the surface layer of the ash dump plus one sample of ash froth for further laboratory analysis. Laboratory analysis enabled determination of the granulometrical, mineralogical and chemical composition of ASW. Assessment of the ASW corrosiveness toward various materials determined necessary limitations in utilization of ASW-based bulding materiasls in contact with steel and aluminum. The content of natural radionuclides of K40, Ra226, Th232 and man-made Cs137 in ASW was determined. The detected increased activity of Ra226 and Th232 necessitates additional studies of radon and thoron emissions from ASW. Microspheres recovered from ash froth during ASW utilization have special usage value

Environmental feasibility study for deployment and construction of mobile gas turbine power plants in urbanized areas

In the view of current electrical shortage in some regions of Russia, mobile gas turbine power plants (MGTPP) have become urgent in recent years. Usually they are used as back-up power sources to cover peak loads in power networks and to ensure uninterrupted power supply to consumers. This paper deals with environmental feasibility study for deployment and construction of the MGTPP in an urban setting. Technogehic factors of the MGTPP impact on the environment have been assessed and possibility of the MGTPP deployment at various sites in different regions of Russia has been identified. The necessity of using the technology of water injection into the gas turbine units combustion chamber to suppress nitrogen oxides in some cases is mentioned. Quantitative assessments of the MGTPP technogehic impact on the environment components have been performed using standard techniques. The calculations have revealed that the MGTPP specifications ensure the levels of technogehic impacts within the standard limits. The results have ensured preparation of pre-design and design documentation related to protection of the environment against the MGTPP complex technogehic impact

Consideration of hazardous and especially hazardous hydrometeorological impacts in design of buildings and structures of nuclear power plants

External impacts of the hydrometeorological origin have a significant influence on the safety level of objects of use of atomic energy (OUAE), including nuclear power plants (NPP). Therefore, the existing NPP-related safety regulations demand to consider such impacts at all stages of the NPP life cycle. It is important to make decisions on considering or ignoring certain external impacts while designing NPP buildings and structures. The main criterion for such decisions is the probability of a non-project accident associated with the release of radionuclides into the environment when an extreme phenomena occurs. The aim of this study is to develop a concept for refinement regulatory requirements, considering hydrometeorological factors in organization of NPP engineering protection. Criteria for consideration of hazardous and especially hazardous hydrometeorological impacts for design of NPP buildings and structures were analyzed, and recommendations for refinement of regulatory requirements, considering hydrometeorological factors in organization of NPP engineering protection, were developed

Pre-project geoecological studies for clearing of the Tikhomandritsa riverbed (Tver Region, Russia)

Pre-project geoecological studies were carried out in autumn 2015 along the entire length of the Tikhomandritsa river, in Navolok lake waters near the river source and Udomlya lake near its mouth, as well as on the territory adjacent to the river, as part of the Comprehensive Engineering Surveys. The aim of the studies was to obtain initial data to assess the current ambient conditions of the study area, as well as to develop the project of cleaning the upper stretch of the Tikhomandritsa riverbed and spillway structure construction. Water, bottom sediments and soil contamination levels were identified. It is found that the water quality in the studied water bodies belongs to the contaminated category. Bottom sediments at the upper stretch of the river up to a distance of 2.5 km from its source are pure and can be used in agriculture without restrictions. Bottom sediments samples taken at a distance of 5.5 km from the river source and its mouth contain dangerous level of coliform bacteria. Basing on the territory survey a tree and shurberry felling plan was drawn up and the volume of works of the river purification was determined. The project implementation will help to increase the river flow in dry water years, increase its self-cleaning velocity and environmental improvement of the area. In addition, the increase of water flow into Udomlya lake will provide Kalinin NPP with additional water resources for its process water supply. The conceptual scheme of this study is largely applicable for the basins of other small rivers

Shielding effect of reinforced concrete fences in electromagnetic fields of industrial frequency

Electromagnetic fields (EMF) are one of the main types of physical pollution of the environment in urban lands. The danger of adverse impact of EMF on human health increases with growth of electric power consumption. Therefore, the issues of protection of the population against EMF impact are becoming very important. One of the options for protection against EMF exposure is the use of reinforced concrete fences with shielding properties. Despite the simplicity of such a device against EMF, it can be stated that shielding effect assessment issues are poorly known. The objective of this paper is to assess the shielding effect of reinforced concrete fences in EMF industrial frequency. The shielding effect of the reinforced concrete fences study was conducted on the surrounding area of the thermal power plant (TPP), located on the edge of Mytishchi city of the Moscow Region. The effects of an abrupt increase in the EMF intensity in front of the reinforced concrete fence and its decrease behind the fence are revealed. It is found that these effects are associated with the concrete reinforcement impact inside the fence, in which an alternating electric current is generated. The shielding effect determines the partial reflection of EMF in front of the fence and decrease of EMF inside it. Accounting for the shielding effect of reinforced concrete fences provides perspectives of organizing the protection of the population near residential and industrial buildings, as well as protection of personnel working in the strong EMF areas

Measurement errors of electromagnetic fields of industrial frequency in urban areas

The universal development of electrical grid infrastructure of the cities leads to an increase in the level of electromagnetic pollution of residential and especially industrial areas. Concern of the urban population about human exposure to potential danger of negative influence of electromagnetic fields (EMF) causes the need for large-scale EMF research in urban areas. To conduct this type of study, the estimates of measurement errors of intensities of the electrical and magnetic components of the EMF should be performed. The goal of this research is to assess the EMF measurement errors of the industrial frequency in urban areas. The error estimation of EMF measurements generated by power line communication was performed using the section of the territory of Moscow’s North East, as an example. The main statistical characteristics of measurement errors were determined. It is found that, when performing 3 series of measuring, the errors reduce by 1.5-3 times. When strong EMF intensities exist, it is recommended to carry out not one but a series of measurements with subsequent averaging of the results in each investigated point of the area