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Infrastructure - Environment - Energy
Dodatek lobbingowy do "RZECZPOSPOLITEJ".
10 marca 2009 r.
po polsku
Technical safety - an element of energy security
Marek Walczak, President of Urząd Dozoru Technicznego [Office of Technical Inspection]
 Energy
security is usually associated with ensuring continuity of fuel and energy
supplies and thus with the availability of power resources and power
infrastructure. Initially, power engineering safety problems resulted from the
necessity to reduce risk of threats to human life and health related to the use
of technical equipment.
Only a few of
us remember that in the 19th and at the beginning of the 20th century the world
had to cope with the problem of steam boiler explosions which killed thousands
of men. The safety was improved by the implementation of technical regulations
which forced steam equipment designers, manufacturers and users to take
appropriate measures. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was the first European
country to introduce (in 1813) "safety regulations" for steam engines and
boilers.
Special
control and inspection organisations responsible for safe operation of
technical equipment were established in particular countries in order to check
whether these regulations are observed. In 1911, "Warszawskie Stowarzyszenie
dla Dozoru nad Kotłami Parowymi" [Warsaw Association for the Supervision
over Steam Boilers] was established. The Association employed only Polish
engineers and technicians. Its objective was to inspect steam boilers, engine
equipment etc. This was the date on which the history of Polish technical
inspection started. Technology development made it necessary to improve the
design of pressure equipment generating steam which even today continues to be
the main carrier transporting energy from a boiler, via a turbine to a power
generator. Pressure and the efficiency of steam generated in boilers are the
most important factors affecting both, capacity of power units and power plant
operation safety. Throughout many years of power plant operation, the pressure
of steam generated in power boilers increased from a few to several hundreds of
bars, which forced designers and manufacturers to use more advanced materials, technologies
and appropriate safety measures in the construction of power units. Despite
technological progress, this equipment can still be a potential threat to human
health and the environment and thus is the subject to technical inspections
which reduce the risk involved in the operation of power units to the level
acceptable to the general public. Today, general public expectations in
relation to power engineering are more and more frequently related to the
reliability of the supplies of energy and fuels meeting appropriate standards. To
ensure this reliability, it is necessary to ensure technical safety of used
equipment and installations, as well as the environmental safety, while meeting
the condition of the project commercial viability and offering prices
acceptable to both, individual and industrial consumers.
From the point
of view of technical safety, steam used in nuclear power plants poses similar
threats as in conventional power plants and until recently differences in the
risk level have been mainly due to the size of installed equipment. The nuclear
power sector continues to analyse these risks and improves manufacturing
technologies, testing methods, operational parameter monitoring methods and
safety system technologies.
Pursuant to
the resolution of the Council of Ministers of January 2009, one or two nuclear power
plants will be built by 2021. It is a difficult task requiring many efforts,
including those related to the approval or amendment of particular legal acts
and technical safety. Participation of representatives of Urząd Dozoru
Technicznego in a study visit to France and the analyses of legal and
technical environment of the construction of nuclear power facilities in
different countries reveal the significance of the involvement of engineers,
scientists and researchers in these efforts.
Lectures
devoted to nuclear power engineering conducted at Polish universities, such as AGH
[University of Science and Technology] and Politechnika Wrocławska [Wrocław
University of Technology], and study visits to Slovak nuclear power plant are good
signs. But is it enough? A few hundred of experts and appropriate scientific
and research facilities will be needed to operate one nuclear power plant. Experiences
of one of the European inspection and control entities involved in the
construction and operation of nuclear power plants, with which UDT closely
cooperates in relation to, among others, certain aspects related to such
facilities, show that preparation to perform particular service operations
requires nearly five years of training and practice in simulated and real-life
situations. Another issue is related to preparation of Polish companies for
building a nuclear power plant and its infrastructure. Polish industry should
be prepared to play a vital role during the construction of nuclear power
facilities, not only as a subcontractor of particular elements.
Urząd Dozoru
Technicznego actively participated in the construction of nuclear power plant in
Żarnowiec. As a participant of all significant power projects implemented in
Poland and many such projects implemented in Europe, UDT, taking into account
the energy security, is ready to support all efforts taken in relation to
nuclear power engineering development. n
Urząd Dozoru Technicznego
02-353 Warszawa, ul. Szczęśliwicka 34
tel. 022 572-21-10, fax 022 572-21-29
www.udt.gov.pl
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