Russia’s Leningrad NPP has introduced industrial operation of a video analytical system for employees to strengthen compliance with safety requirements. It is being used at both RBMK and VVER unit at the plant.
Currently Leningrad NPP has four units in operation – units 3&4 with Soviet RBMK-1000 reactors, as well units 5&6 with new VVER-1200 units (also known as Leningrad-II 1&2). Units 5&6 replaced units 1&2 with RBMK-1000 reactors, which were decommissioned in 2018 and 2020. New VVER-1200 units (7&8) will replace units 3&4.
At the first stage, 90 cameras were connected to the system. They allow real-time control of almost 45 rooms with 6kV and 10 kV electrical installations where personnel compliance with safety rules, norms and requirements should be under special control by management.
“The introduction of a video analytical system is another milestone on the path to achieving the goal of zero injuries at the enterprises of [nuclear utility] Rosenergoatom,” said Sergey Mezentsev, Deputy Chief Engineer at Leningrad NPP for production and technical support and quality control. “The system is designed to become a flexible tool for preventing and detecting violations of labour protection requirements. Thanks to the training elements integrated into the system, we will be able to maintain a high level of reliability of detected events during the entire operating time.”
As part of the second stage, during 2025, a number of rooms with electrical installations at the VVER units will be additionally connected to the smart video analytics system by increasing the number of video cameras used by the system with another 35 units. In the future, the same system will be implemented units 7&8 currently under construction.
In addition to increasing the level of labour discipline of personnel in the field of protection and reducing work-related injuries, video analytics also makes it possible to detect hypothetical fires and smoke, objects left unattended, spills of liquids, as well as unauthorised persons in staff premises.
The system also reduces the costs of processing data from video surveillance cameras as the system automatically, in real time, detects violations and instantly notifies inspection services and managers. The system also reports on recorded violations and archives them.
Project implementation on the introduction of automated control of mandatory use and proper use by personnel of protective equipment is being carried out as part of Rosenergoatom’s digitalisation programme. The Kola NPP, where the system began operating in 2019, has become the pilot platform for its implementation. In addition to the Leningrad NPP, the other NPPs participating are Balakova, Kalinin, Rostov, Beloyarsk, Kursk, Novovoronezh and Smolensk.
