Location tracking and integrated management system for mobile response facilities against multi-unit accidents in nuclear power plant

Abstract

The present invention provides a location tracking and integrated management system for mobile response facilities against multi-unit accidents in a nuclear power plant. According to one embodiment, the system comprises: an accident response unit having an organization for responding to accidents occurring in a plurality of units of a nuclear power plant, and including a disaster response safety unit disposed at a lowest level of the organization and provided with mobile facilities for responding to accidents occurring in respective units; a location providing unit that receives location information of the mobile facilities in real time; and a display unit that receives the location information from the location providing unit and displays locations of the mobile facilities to a user.

Description

Location tracking and integrated management system for mobile response facilities for multiple nuclear power plant accidents

[0001] The present invention relates to a location tracking and integrated management system for mobile response facilities for multiple accidents at a nuclear power plant.

[0002] Following the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, multi-unit accident response at densely populated nuclear power plant sites emerged as a global issue, and developed countries adopted their own risk reduction measures utilizing mobile or fixed accident response facilities as described below.

[0003] - FLEX Strategy (Diverse and Flexible Coping Strategies; U.S. nuclear accident response strategy utilizing mobile equipment) HSC Strategy (Hardened Safety Core; France nuclear accident response strategy utilizing fixed equipment)

[0004] - ICC Strategy (Independent Core Cooling; Sweden's nuclear accident response strategy utilizing fixed equipment)

[0005] - MACST Strategy (Multi-barrier Accident Strategies; Korea's nuclear accident response strategy utilizing mobile equipment)

[0006] Among them, the United States, South Korea, Canada, China, Taiwan, Romania, Slovenia, and several other countries have adopted plans to utilize mobile facilities as response equipment for multi-unit nuclear accidents.

[0007] While mobile equipment offers the advantage of flexible accident response, it presents the problem of a larger number of equipment items that must be identified during an accident. Furthermore, in environments like Korea where multiple nuclear reactor units are located on a single site, the allocation of mobile equipment becomes more complex and requires more consideration in the event of an accident at multiple units.

[0008] To address this, a system is generally utilized that collects and controls internal information from each power plant in the event of an accident at multiple units, or provides various real-time internal data to an integrated information system, thereby enabling decision-makers in accident management organizations (e.g., the nuclear power plant's Emergency Operations Headquarters - EOF, Technical Support Center - TSC, Main Control Center - MCR) to issue instructions regarding the decision to use mobile equipment and accident response procedures.

[0009] Here, internal information of the power plant typically refers to measurement signals indicating the progress of an accident, such as flow rate, temperature, and pressure within each power plant; the integrated information system includes synthesizing the relevant internal information measured for each unit and other information gathered based on reports from operational personnel, and transmitting this to an integrated monitoring screen.

[0010] However, such a system is focused on the procedure of collecting internal information from multiple units and reporting it to higher-level decision-makers.

[0011] However, field personnel who physically carry out accident response procedures and personnel at the Disaster Response Safety Center face difficulties in grasping the actual situation of multiple accidents at once. For example, a field officer handling an accident at one unit must request information from higher authorities to learn about the situation occurring at another unit.

[0012] Such a system hinders field personnel from promptly handling accidents when extreme disaster situations exceeding design standards occur at densely populated power plant sites (e.g., nuclear / thermal), or when accidents occur simultaneously in multiple units. For instance, field personnel must follow established procedures to periodically report or request even minor details to upper management or decision-makers.

[0013] Since field agents can only obtain information through decision-makers, additional time may be consumed in communication even to briefly grasp the current status of information, and confusion regarding information may occur.

[0014] Accordingly, there is a need for a location tracking and integrated management system for mobile response equipment that allows accident response personnel, including field staff, to briefly identify the locations and usage status of mobile equipment necessary for accident response in the event of a multi-unit accident.

[0015] To solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a location tracking and integrated management system for mobile response facilities for multiple accidents at a nuclear power plant, which can reduce unnecessary reporting systems and confusion caused thereby during accident response by enabling relevant personnel, including field personnel, to easily identify the status of mobile accident response facilities in the event of multiple accidents.

[0016] In addition, the present invention has the objective of providing a location tracking and integrated management system for mobile response facilities in the event of multiple accidents at a nuclear power plant, which enables personnel, including field staff, to identify and manage the real-time status of the mobile response facilities.

[0017] The problems of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

[0018] To solve the problem described above, the present invention provides an integrated management system for tracking the location of mobile response equipment for multiple accidents in a nuclear power plant. In one example, the system may include: an accident response unit comprising an organization for responding to accidents when an accident occurs in multiple units of a nuclear power plant, and a disaster response safety unit positioned at the end of the organization to provide mobile equipment for responding to accidents occurring in each unit; a location providing unit that receives location information of the mobile equipment in real time; and a display unit that receives location information from the location providing unit and displays the location of the mobile equipment to a user.

[0019] In one embodiment, the mobile equipment may be provided with a location tracking device for transmitting location information of the mobile equipment in real time to a location providing unit.

[0020] In one embodiment, the location tracking device may be provided as at least one of an RTLS device including a GPS device or an RFID device, a UWB device, a Bluetooth device, a Wi-Fi device, etc.

[0021] In one embodiment, the location providing unit may be provided as an application executable on a user's portable device.

[0022] In one embodiment, the location providing unit displays location information of a mobile facility on a map inside the site of a nuclear power plant on an application, and the location information may include the current location, destination, travel path, and travel speed of the mobile facility.

[0023] In one embodiment, the location providing unit may be provided to enable a user of the nuclear power plant to input a destination on the application.

[0024] In one embodiment, the display unit may be provided as a portable device equipped with a display.

[0025] In one embodiment, a communication unit may further include a communication device mounted on a mobile facility and an interface provided to enable communication.

[0026] In one embodiment, the interface may be provided by being integrated with the application of the location provider.

[0027] In one embodiment, the accident response unit may further include a power plant Main Control Room (MCR), Operational Support Center (OSC), Technical Support Center (TSC), and Emergency Operations Facility (EOF), which have an accident reporting and response system located sequentially above the Disaster Response Safety Unit.

[0028] According to the present invention, by enabling personnel, including field staff, to easily identify the status of mobile accident response facilities in the event of a multi-unit accident, unnecessary reporting systems and resulting confusion can be reduced during accident response.

[0029] In addition, the present invention enables personnel, including field staff, to monitor and manage the real-time status of mobile response equipment.

[0030] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from this specification and the attached drawings.

[0031] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a multi-unit accident management system (1000) of a nuclear power plant according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 2 schematically shows an accident response unit (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows the operation of a multi-unit accident management system (1000) of a nuclear power plant according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] The embodiments described in this specification may be modified in various different forms, and the technology according to one embodiment is not limited to the embodiments described below. Furthermore, the embodiment of one embodiment is provided to more fully explain the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0035] Additionally, the singular form used in the specification and the appended claims may be intended to include the plural form unless specifically indicated otherwise in the context.

[0036] Additionally, the numerical ranges used in this specification include lower and upper limits and all values ​​within the range, increments logically derived from the form and width of the defined range, all of which are limited values, and all possible combinations of upper and lower limits of numerical ranges defined in different forms. Unless otherwise specifically defined in this specification, values ​​outside the numerical range that may occur due to experimental error or rounding are also included in the defined numerical range.

[0037] Furthermore, throughout the specification, the term "comprising" a component means that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but rather may include additional components.

[0038] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a multi-unit accident management system (1000) for a nuclear power plant according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the multi-unit accident management system (1000) for a nuclear power plant according to the present invention includes an accident response unit (100), a location providing unit (400), a display unit (300), and a communication unit (200).

[0039] The accident response unit (100) includes an organization for responding to accidents when an accident occurs in multiple units of a nuclear power plant. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an accident response unit (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention. In one example, the accident response unit (100) includes a disaster response safety unit (150), a power plant main control unit (140) (MCR: Main Control Room), an emergency operation support unit (130) (OSC: Operational Support Center), an emergency technical support unit (120) (TSC: Technical Support Center), and an emergency operations headquarters (110) (EOF: Emergency Operations Facility). When an accident occurs, the accident status is reported in the order of the disaster response safety unit (150), the power plant main control unit (140), the emergency operation support unit (130), the emergency technical support unit (120), and the emergency operations headquarters (110), and orders regarding accident response are transmitted in the reverse order. Hereinafter, a person who belongs to the accident response unit (100) and is involved in the accident response of the nuclear power plant is referred to as a user.

[0040] The present invention is described as one disaster response safety unit (150) providing mobile equipment (151) to six units. This is merely an example, and in the event of a multi-unit accident, the actual number of units may be more or fewer than this, and accordingly, the number of power plant main control unit (140), emergency operation support unit (130), and emergency technical support unit (120) may also be provided differently. Hereinafter, the disaster response safety unit (150) of the present invention is described as providing mobile equipment (151) to six units, the power plant main control unit (140) is provided per unit, the emergency operation support unit (130) and the emergency technical support unit (120) are provided as three units by placing one for every two units, and the emergency countermeasure headquarters (110) is provided as one.

[0041] The Disaster Response Safety Department (150) includes a Disaster Response Safety Center (157) (SC: Safety Center), mobile equipment (151), and Disaster Response Safety Department personnel (153). Mobile equipment (151) is stored in the Disaster Response Safety Center (157). Mobile equipment (151) is moved to each power plant unit, and after installing and deploying the devices provided to each mobile equipment (151), it responds to accidents. Disaster Response Safety Department personnel (153) operate and move the mobile equipment (151).

[0042] In one example, the mobile equipment (151) may be provided as equipment for supplying AC power (e.g., mobile generator, medium-sized generator, etc.), equipment for supplying cooling water (e.g., high-pressure / low-pressure mobile pump, high-flow mobile pump, mobile heat exchanger, etc.), and other auxiliary equipment (e.g., mobile water purification equipment, mobile air compressor, mobile sprinkler truck, multi-purpose communication relay equipment, fuel oil transfer equipment, etc.). In the event of a disaster, at least one matching mobile equipment (151) may be provided to each power plant unit, or conversely, one or two mobile equipment (151) may be shared among multiple units. For example, the mobile equipment (151) may be equipped with a 1.0 MW capacity generator (151a), a 3.2 MW capacity generator (151b), a medium-low pressure pump truck (151c), a high pressure pump truck (151d), and a high pressure sprinkler truck (151e).

[0043] The mobile equipment (151) can be moved, deployed, connected, and operated by the disaster response safety department personnel (153) and the field personnel of the power plant main control department (140) described later.

[0044] A location tracking device is provided on the mobile equipment (151). The location tracking device transmits location information of the mobile equipment (151) in real time to the location providing unit (400). In one example, the location tracking device may be provided as an RTLS device including a GPS device, an RFID device, a UWB device, a Bluetooth device, a Wi-Fi device, etc.

[0045] The main control unit (140) of the power plant is operated in conjunction with the disaster response safety unit (150), and a dedicated user is assigned to perform management and supervision, such as the output status of the reactor and safety measures in case of emergency. Field operators (FO) may be assigned to each main control unit (140) of the power plant. The field operators receive the mobile equipment (151) from the disaster response safety unit personnel (153) and operate and run it.

[0046] The Emergency Operation Support Department (130) is provided so that users directly involved in the operation of the power plant can enter and stay at the Emergency Operation Support Department (130), establish an emergency cooperation system with the Main Control Department (140), and support maintenance work for related mobile equipment.

[0047] The Emergency Response Headquarters (110) and the Emergency Technical Support Department (120) are decision-makers.

[0048] The Emergency Response Headquarters (110) is the final decision-maker, and the Emergency Technical Support Department (120) is provided to prevent congestion of the Main Control Department (140), improve the user's situational judgment, and to take over the functions of the Emergency Response Headquarters (110) until the Emergency Response Headquarters (110) is activated.

[0049] The location providing unit (400) is provided to enable real-time communication with the location tracking device and the display unit (300). The location providing unit (400) receives location information of the mobile equipment (151) from the location tracking device and transmits it to the display unit (300). The location providing unit (400), the location tracking device, and the display unit (300) are provided to enable real-time wireless communication, and the wireless communication method may be provided by utilizing an RTLS device including the aforementioned GPS device, RFID device, UWB device, Bluetooth device, Wi-Fi device, etc. Since multi-unit accidents may be extreme disaster situations, a Starlink communication method may be applied when necessary to prepare for situations where communication may be blocked. The wireless communication method is not limited to this and may be changed as needed.

[0050] In one example, the location provider (400) may be provided as an application executable on a user's portable device. In one example, the user's portable device may be provided in the form of a mobile phone, laptop, computer, tablet PC, etc.

[0051] In one example, the location providing unit (400) may be configured as an interface that displays a map of the site of the nuclear power plant on the application and displays information of the mobile equipment (151) on the map. For example, it may be configured to display the location of the mobile equipment (151) on the map. In one example, the location providing unit (400) may additionally display not only the location of the mobile equipment (151) on the map but also the destination, travel path, and travel speed of the mobile equipment (151).

[0052] In one example, access rights to the location providing unit (400) may be set. For instance, to access the location providing unit (400), information such as passwords, fingerprints, or irises of the people involved with the nuclear power plant may be required, or a security system (1000) within the user's portable device may be utilized.

[0053] In one example, information about the mobile equipment (151) shown in the location providing unit (400) can be input by a user. For example, the user can input a destination by selecting it in an application. The movement path and movement speed of the mobile equipment (151) can be calculated by the location providing unit (400) based on the location information of the mobile equipment (151) transmitted in real time by a location tracking device provided to the mobile equipment (151).

[0054] Here, the user is a disaster response safety officer (153) or field officer operating the mobile equipment (151). Alternatively, the user may be a user from a higher authority who issues commands or instructions related to accident response to the disaster response safety officer (153) or field officer.

[0055] The display unit (300) receives location information of the mobile equipment (151) from the location providing unit (400). In one example, the display unit (300) may be provided as a display located outside the nuclear power plant site. In one example, the display unit (300) may be provided as a portable device for personnel related to the nuclear power plant. For instance, the display unit (300) may be provided as a mobile phone for personnel related to the nuclear power plant. Through the display unit (300), personnel related to the nuclear power plant can obtain information about the mobile equipment (151) in real time.

[0056] The communication unit (200) may be provided to include functions such as telephone and message to enable communication between users. For example, the communication unit (200) may include a communication device mounted on a mobile equipment (151) and an interface provided to enable communication. Accordingly, when communication between users is required, communication may be possible directly through the communication function provided to the location providing unit (400) without going through the upper unit. In one example, the interface provided to enable communication of the communication unit (200) may be integrated into an application used in the location providing unit (400). In one example, the mobile equipment (151) to be communicated with may be selected on the application, and a phone call or message may be sent to the communication device provided to the mobile equipment (151).

[0057] FIG. 3 shows the operation of a multi-unit accident management system (1000) of a nuclear power plant according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] A field agent must determine the location of the mobile equipment (151) in order to receive the mobile equipment (151) from the disaster response safety department agent (153). Alternatively, the location of the mobile equipment (151) must be determined in situations such as determining whether the mobile equipment (151) is moving according to the intention of the decision-maker, or when the same mobile equipment (151) needs to be used at different times in different units.

[0059] At this time, there is a problem that if the location of the mobile equipment (151) must always be confirmed with the superior department in order to determine the location of the mobile equipment (151), it takes a long time and may involve human error.

[0060] In one example, the mobile equipment (151) may be equipped with a 1.0 MW capacity generator (151a), a 3.2 MW capacity generator (151b), a medium-low pressure pump truck (151c), a high pressure pump truck (151d), and a high pressure sprinkler truck (151e), as shown in FIG. 2. The 3.2 MW capacity generator (151b) may not be sufficient to install in all units and must be moved and deployed in sequence to the units that need it first. Accordingly, the location of the 3.2 MW capacity generator (151b) must be identified first.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 3, the present invention enables real-time tracking of the location of the mobile equipment (151) and direct communication with the mobile equipment (151) in order to prevent human error and effectively perform the placement of the mobile equipment (151).

[0062] Accordingly, the present invention has the advantage of reducing unnecessary reporting systems and confusion caused thereby during accident response by enabling personnel, including field staff, to easily identify the status of mobile accident response facilities in the event of multiple accidents.

[0063] In addition, according to the present invention, there is an advantage that personnel, including field staff, can monitor and manage the real-time status of mobile response equipment.

[0064] As described above, the present disclosure has been explained by specific details and limited embodiments in this specification; however, this is provided merely to aid in a more comprehensive understanding of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments. A person skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains can make various modifications and variations from this description.

[0065] Accordingly, the concept described in this specification is not limited to the described embodiments, and all things equivalent to or having equivalent variations to the claims set forth below, as well as the claims set forth below, shall be considered to fall within the scope of the concept described in this specification.

[0066]

[0067] This invention is a result of the following national research and development project.

[0068] 1. Project ID: 1415182239

[0069] 2. Project Number: 77851-24

[0070] 3. Ministry Name: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

[0071] 4. Project Management (Specialized) Agency Name: Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning

[0072] 5. Research Project Name: Core Technology Development Project for Enhancing Safety of Operating Nuclear Power Plants

[0073] 6. Research Project Title: Development of Technology to Prevent Expansion of Multi-Unit Accidents at Domestic Nuclear Power Plant Sites

[0074] 7. Name of Project Performing Organization: Nuclear Engineering Co., Ltd.

[0075] 8. Research Period: April 1, 2022 – December 31, 2026

Claims

1. An accident response unit comprising an organization for responding to accidents in the event that an accident occurs in multiple units of a nuclear power plant, and a disaster response safety unit deployed at the end of said organization and provided with mobile equipment to respond to accidents occurring in each unit; A location providing unit that receives location information of the above-mentioned mobile equipment in real time; and A location tracking and integrated management system for mobile response equipment for multiple accidents at a nuclear power plant, comprising a display unit that receives location information from the location providing unit and displays the location of the mobile equipment to the user.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above mobile equipment is, A location tracking and integrated management system for mobile response equipment for multiple accidents at a nuclear power plant, wherein a location tracking device is provided to transmit location information of the mobile equipment in real time to the location providing unit.

3. In Paragraph 2, The above location tracking device is, A location tracking and integrated management system for multiple accident mobile response facilities of a nuclear power plant, provided with at least one of an RTLS device including a GPS device or an RFID device, a UWB device, a Bluetooth device, a Wi-Fi device, etc.

4. In Paragraph 1, The above-mentioned location providing unit is, Location tracking and integrated management system for mobile response facilities for multiple accidents at nuclear power plants, provided as an application executable on a user's portable device.

5. In Paragraph 4, The above-mentioned location providing unit is, The location information of the mobile equipment is displayed on a map inside the site of the nuclear power plant on the above application, and The above location information is, Location tracking and integrated management system for mobile response equipment for multiple accidents at a nuclear power plant, including the current location, destination, travel path, and travel speed of the above-mentioned mobile equipment.

6. In Paragraph 5, The above-mentioned location providing unit is, A location tracking and integrated management system for multiple accident mobile response facilities of a nuclear power plant, provided to enable a user of the nuclear power plant to input a destination on the above application.

7. In Paragraph 1, The above-mentioned display unit is a location tracking and integrated management system for mobile response facilities for multiple accidents at a nuclear power plant, provided as a portable device equipped with a display.

8. In Paragraph 4, A communication device mounted on the above-mentioned mobile equipment; A location tracking and integrated management system for mobile response equipment for multiple accidents at a nuclear power plant, further comprising a communication unit including an interface provided to enable communication.

9. In Paragraph 8, The above interface is, A location tracking and integrated management system for mobile response facilities for multiple accidents at a nuclear power plant, provided in conjunction with the application of the above-mentioned location providing unit.

10. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 9, The above accident response unit, A location tracking and integrated management system for mobile response facilities for multiple accidents at a nuclear power plant, further comprising a Main Control Room (MCR), Operational Support Center (OSC), Technical Support Center (TSC), and Emergency Operations Facility (EOF) having an accident reporting and response system sequentially located above the above-mentioned Disaster Response Safety Department.

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