Search

The introduction provides an overview of scientific research on the sources of generation, characteristics and classification of infrasound. It is noted that infrasound has a number of features related to the low oscillation frequency of the elastic medium and the diffraction property. Infrasound has harmful effects on hearing, breathing, vision, gastrointestinal tract, nervous and cardiovascular systems, brain and vestibular apparatus, leading to decreased performance, general malaise and premature aging of the human body. The methodology of theoretical substantiation of methods for detecting previously unknown sources of infrasound, improving the environmental, radiation and industrial safety of nuclear power plants with WWER-1200 is based on the use of digital acoustic models of primary circuit equipment responsible for operational safety developed under the guidance of K.N. Proskuryakov. The methodology of practical confirmation of the results of computational and theoretical forecasting of acoustic parameters of previously unknown infrasound sources is presented in the form of two stages: a) development of a methodology for verifying forecasting results and selection of power units No. 1, 2 of Novovoronezh NPP-2 in the form of objects; b) investigation of the conditions for the occurrence of vibro-infrasound resonances in the first circuit. The developed method for investigating infrasound sources has been verified at the WWER-1200 reactor plant. When discussing the results of the conducted research, previously unknown sources of infrasound were identified. Innovative methods of analysis and damping of infrasound sources have been developed and a patent for invention No. 2803181 «A method for preventing resonant interaction of vibrations of water-water power reactor equipment with acoustically standing waves and a device for its implementation» has been obtained. The errors of the chief designer of reactor installations with WWER in the regulations for the launch of new power units are noted; their negative consequences for the health of personnel and the condition of equipment responsible for environmental, radiation and industrial safety of nuclear power plants with WWER are indicated

In the winter months of 2018–2020 the Kola Branch of the Unified Geophysical Service RAS conducted experiments on the joint registration of avalanches in the Khibiny mountain range using seismic and infrasonic sensors during work on the forced descent of the snow mass. The aim of the experiments is to assess the possibility of avalanche detection using the geophysical methods. The lack of representative statistics on the frequency and regularity of avalanches is the reason for the relevance of developing methods of their remote registration. The difficulty of registering avalanches is due to their occurrence often in hard-to-reach areas and in poor visibility conditions. To record signals generated by avalanches, different configurations of infrasound panels consisting of three spatially separated sensors (MPA 201 or Hyperion IFS-4000 microbarographs) and a portable seismic station Guralp CMG-6TD were used. As a result of the experiments, infrasound recordings were obtained at different distances from the avalanche source. The infrasound group recordings collected from the experiments were processed using an automatic detector implementing amplitude and cross-correlation signal detection methods. The spectral composition of the recordings and their characteristic appearance were analyzed. Avalanche-induced signals are characterized by long duration and changes in azimuth to the source. The dominant frequencies of the signal lie in the region of 1–10 Hz. Conclusions are made about the insufficient sensitivity of the seismic method when the seismometer is located at a distance of the first kilometers from the avalanche source, as well as the high applicability of the infrasound method for recording the facts of avalanches. The results obtained will make it possible to develop a methodology for automatic detection of signals generated by avalanches using the data of infrasound registration. This is the necessary basis for building a system for continuous monitoring of avalanche activity.