Bespoke TETRA Installation Called for At Nuclear Power Plant
12 March 2007
Zenitel, international market leader in integrated communication solutions for the professional market, is pleased to announce Zenitel Radioteknik's challenging installation for a large nuclear power plant in Sweden. A digital TETRA solution will be provided for plant and critical communication at times of crisis. Implementation is due to be completed by mid 2007.
Founded in 1965, the power plant, OKG, is located on the Swedish east coast and operates three reactor units to generate electricity for households in Sweden. OKG is also responsible for operating the central interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel.
Last year, OKG's owners decided on a billion SEK investment in order to increase the electrical power output by 20% per year. They also made the decision to upgrade the old analogue communication systems, considering many different options and technologies, digital TETRA being one. Working to a strict modernisation plan to ensure the site can stand up to future demands regarding both safety and availability, OKG decided to improve upon the latest international legislation standards and install TETRA.
The TETRA communication system will consist of TETRA base stations from Motorola provided by Celab Communications AB, and band selective repeaters from Zenitel Radioteknik. Celab Communications AB and Zenitel Radioteknik have successfully collaborated on a number of occasions, previously installing communications at a number of locations.
Situated on an industrial site, the power plant is made up of many buildings including three nuclear reactor unit buildings. The TETRA radio system would naturally be unable to penetrate these buildings. Zenitel's confined area solution is to fit Zenitel repeaters, which will transmit the signal from outside the building to the inside and vice versa.
The Tetra repeaters will be connected to the existing indoor antenna system, today used by the analogue communication systems. To provide the required TETRA coverage the antenna system will be expanded. The upgrade of the indoor antenna system must take into consideration the demands for radiation control, safety requirements and others in the power plant.
Today each power plant building utilizes a completely separated analogue radio system, one for each larger building. Using a TETRA system, OKG will benefit from one single, integrated communication solution for all. When all streams are brought together into one cohesive, top quality solution, there can be no argument that an integrated site is the safest and most secure environment for operating staff, management and visitors alike.
Zenitel, using its TETRA repeaters, will create a bespoke, combined solution using the existing antenna system, to enable the existing analogue system to be used in parallel with the new digital infrastructure for a period of time. Zenitel has specialist knowledge in this field, maintaining emergency communications at all times.
Due to the configuration of the site, Zenitel Radioteknik selected repeaters that pick up signals from the outside air, off-air repeaters, fibre-fed repeaters (using optical fibre) and in-line repeaters. Environmental demands dictated a selection of cabinets and Zenitel was able to supply these too. Also, ironically, in case of power failure at the plant, Zenitel supplied a long-life battery back-up system to maintain reliable communication requirements.
Mariusz Gerlach, country manager of Zenitel Radioteknik comments "These sorts of projects are very demanding when it comes to radio planning. Taking site measurements, we have to ensure the correct radio strength level can be achieved and we use these measurements to propose how we plan to cover the whole site. We are also involved in the engineering and design of the indoor system." In fact, Celab Communication often uses Zenitel's skills and experience to ensure that what is delivered, will meet the requirements of the customer.
Zenitel Radioteknik's state-of-the-art TETRA repeater offers unique features which are now being applied in a number of special coverage locations. Customers using the TETRA repeaters include Copenhagen Metro and airport, police in Amsterdam and organisations in Sweden. All benefit from fast and reliable communication, which from an independent system integrator like Zenitel, is able to include data, voice, multimedia and Internet services.
