Control Room in a VVER 1000 Nuclear Power Plant

Control Room - VVER-1000 plant

Photo by J.A. Gonyeau

The Control Room of a VVER-1000 plant. The colored panel above, sometimes called a mimic panel, shows the position of valves (open, close, mid-position), status of pumps (operating or not) and other equipment. The middle panels contain meters and computer monitors to tell the operator operating conditions. Horizontal benchboard panels contain controls for operating equipment.

The control room operators and supervisors are the more senior personnel in the power plant. They direct the activities of operators in the outer areas of the plant. These field operators inspect the condition of the operating equipment, lineup equipment for starting and maintenance, and perform minor maintenance, e.g. greasing, adding oil, cleaning equipment.