Safety enhancement concept for NPP of new generation with VVER reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bezlepkin, V.; Kukhtevich, I.; Semashko, S.; Svetlov, S.; Solodovnikov, A.

2004-01-01

With the present day conditions, in order to successfully promote new NPP designs in the electric power markets, it is necessary to ensure enhanced technical/economic performances provided that international safety requirements are properly adhered to. When compared with high-powered nuclear power plants, NPP VVER-640 design (medium powered) possesses a number of advantages for the regions with undeveloped energy systems. Reduced specific energy intensity of the core adopted in this type of reactor allows to ensure the emergency cooldown of the reactor plant by passive means and to minimize the 'human factor' risk and external effects and provide sound substantiations as to how to retain corium inside RPV in case of severe accidents. At the same time, high-powered NPPs seem to be promising for regions with developed energy systems. Among such designs, NPP VVER-1000 and VVER-1500 designs are the most desirable. Configuration of new generation NPP with VVER-1500 is to be selected based on the gained experience in designing NPPs of previous generations considering the latest safety requirements and situation in the domestic and global energy markets for the time being and in the short run. Recent IAEA publications and latest EUR requirements insist that the following key safety indices should be established for new NPP designs: - aggregated frequency of core melting is 10 -6 (1/year); - frequency of maximum accident release is 10 -7 (1/year). To meet the aforementioned criteria, it is necessary to implement some safety assurance principles recommended by IAEA (in-depth defence, single failure, redundancy, diversity, etc.), application of deterministic and probabilistic methods for selection of safety assurance activities and means and use of reasonable combination of active and passive systems. Application of VVER-640 concept to high-powered NPPs seems to be a formidable task due to a number of reasons, namely, it is quite difficult to carry out cooldown process

Stresses in transition region of VVER-1000 reactor vessels

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Namgung, I.; Nguye, T.L.

2014-01-01

Most of the western PWR reactor's bottom head is hemi-spherical shape, however for Russian designed VVER family of reactor it is ellipsoidal shape. The transition region from shell side to ellipsoidal head and transition top flange to cylindrical shell develop higher stress concentration than western PWR reactor vessel. This region can be modeled as conical shell with varying thickness. The theoretical derivation of stress in the thick-walled conical cylinder with varying thickness was developed and shown in detail. The results is applied to VVER-1000 reactor vessel of which shell to bottom ellipsoidal shell and shell to upper flange were investigated for stress field. The theoretical calculations were also compared with FEM solutions. An axisymmetric 3D model of VVER-1000 reactor vessel (without closure head) FEM model was created and internal hydrostatic pressure boundary condition was applied. The stress results from FEM and theoretical calculation were compared, and the discrepancies and accuracies of the theoretical results were discussed. (author)

Stresses in transition region of VVER-1000 reactor vessels

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Namgung, I. [KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School, Ulsan (Korea, Republic of); Nguye, T.L. [KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School, Ulsan (Korea, Republic of); National Research Inst. of Mechanical Engineering, Hanoi City, Vietnam (China)

2014-07-01

Most of the western PWR reactor's bottom head is hemi-spherical shape, however for Russian designed VVER family of reactor it is ellipsoidal shape. The transition region from shell side to ellipsoidal head and transition top flange to cylindrical shell develop higher stress concentration than western PWR reactor vessel. This region can be modeled as conical shell with varying thickness. The theoretical derivation of stress in the thick-walled conical cylinder with varying thickness was developed and shown in detail. The results is applied to VVER-1000 reactor vessel of which shell to bottom ellipsoidal shell and shell to upper flange were investigated for stress field. The theoretical calculations were also compared with FEM solutions. An axisymmetric 3D model of VVER-1000 reactor vessel (without closure head) FEM model was created and internal hydrostatic pressure boundary condition was applied. The stress results from FEM and theoretical calculation were compared, and the discrepancies and accuracies of the theoretical results were discussed. (author)

Research on loading pattern optimization for VVER reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tran Viet Phu; Nguyen Thi Mai Huong; Nguyen Huu Tiep; Ta Duy Long; Tran Vinh Thanh; Tran Hoai Nam

2017-01-01

A study on fuel loading pattern optimization of a VVER reactor was performed. In this study, a core physics simulator was developed based on a multi-group diffusion theory for the use in the problem of fuel loading optimization of VVER reactors. The core simulator could handle the triangular meshes of the core and the computational speed is fast. Verification of the core simulator was confirmed against a benchmark problem of a VVER-1000 reactor. Several optimization methods such as DS, SA, TS and a combination of them were investigated and implemented in coupling with the core simulator. Calculations was performed for optimizing the fuel loading pattern of the core using these methods based on a benchmark core model in comparison with the reference core. Comparison among these methods have shown that a combination of SA+TS is the most effective for the problem of fuel loading pattern optimization. Advanced methods are being researched continuously. (author)

Structural strength during severe reactor accidents of the VVER- 91 nuclear power plant

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Varpasuo, P.

1999-12-01

The report summarises the studies carried out in Fortum Engineering (formerly IVO Power Engineering) between the years of 1992 and 1997 concerning ultimate strength of structures designed to mitigate and contain the consequences of various core melt accident scenarios. The report begins with the description of containment loading situations arising from core melt accidents. These situations are divided to fast and slow loads. Fast loads include ex-vessel steam explosions, steam spikes, hydrogen burns, direct containment heating and missiles. Slow loads are connected with pressure rise inside the containment in case when the containment heat removal system is not functioning. First part of report describes the analyses of reactor cavity based on axi-symmetric load assumptions. These studies are performed with various models like one degree of freedom idealisation, axi-symmetric modelling of geometry and full three-dimensional modelling of geometry. Second part of report describes the analyses of cavity based on non-axi-symmetric load assumptions. Here full 3D- geometry model is used combined with various physical models for the behaviour of reinforced concrete. Third part of report gives short account of the analysis of containment ultimate pressure capacity. The containment model in this case includes pre-stressing tendons and mild steel reinforcing bars. The load is assumed to axi-symmetric internal static pressure. The capacity of the reactor cavity against the ex-vessel steam explosion scenarios for VVER-91 plant concept is established for both axi-symmetric and non-axi-symmetric load models using ANACAP structural analysis code. The validation of the cavity response to ex-vessel steam explosion load using different commercially available codes gave mixed results for both axisymmetric and non-axi-symmetric load presentations.The ultimate static overpressure capacity of the VVER-91 reactor cavity structure was established to be of the order of 10 MPa. This result

VIPRE modeling of VVER-1000 reactor core for DNB analyses

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sung, Y.; Nguyen, Q. [Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA (United States); Cizek, J. [Nuclear Research Institute, Prague, (Czech Republic)

1995-09-01

Based on the one-pass modeling approach, the hot channels and the VVER-1000 reactor core can be modeled in 30 channels for DNB analyses using the VIPRE-01/MOD02 (VIPRE) code (VIPRE is owned by Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, California). The VIPRE one-pass model does not compromise any accuracy in the hot channel local fluid conditions. Extensive qualifications include sensitivity studies of radial noding and crossflow parameters and comparisons with the results from THINC and CALOPEA subchannel codes. The qualifications confirm that the VIPRE code with the Westinghouse modeling method provides good computational performance and accuracy for VVER-1000 DNB analyses.

Interactive nuclear plant analyzer for VVER-440 reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Shier, W.; Horak, W.; Kennett, R.

1992-05-01

This document discusses an interactive nuclear plant analyzer (NPA) which has been developed for a VVER-440, Model 213 reactor for use in the training of plant personnel, the development and verification of plant operating procedures, and in the analysis of various anticipated operational occurrences and accident scenarios. This NPA is operational on an IBM RISC-6000 workstation and utilizes the RELAP5/MOD2 computer code for the calculation of the VVER-440 reactor response to the interactive commands initiated by the NPA operator

Comparison of radioactive doses after the last protection layer insight the reactor structure for Russian VVER-1000 and German PWR-1300 reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Rahimi, A.; Mansourshaiflu, N.; Alizadeh, M. R.

2004-01-01

In pressurized reactors (VVER and PWR), various protections layers are used for reducing the output core doses. At any protection layer, some amount of neutron and gamma doses is reduced. In this project the axial flux of neutron and gamma beams have been evaluated at various protection layers in the operation state the German PWR-1300 and Russian VVER-1000 reactors by the MCNP computer code. For the purpose of effective use of the MCNP code and assuring its correct performance about of fluxed beams common and series of scientific answers and bench marks should be considered and the results obtained by the MCNP code, be compared with this answers. Then by using appropriate method, for reducing the flux variants of neutron and gamma beams at various protection layers of German PWR-1300 and Russian VVER-1000 reactors of the operation state of both reactors have been accelerated. In this projects, bench marks are computations and numbers existing in PSAR's present at Bushehr nuclear power plant. At the end, by using the results obtained and the standard doses, the time which a person can have work activity at the reactor wall (after the last protection layer), was compared for the operation status of the German PWR-1300 and Russian VVER-1000 reactors

Proposal of a benchmark for core burnup calculations for a VVER-1000 reactor core

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Loetsch, T.; Khalimonchuk, V.; Kuchin, A.

2009-01-01

In the framework of a project supported by the German BMU the code DYN3D should be further validated and verified. During the work a lack of a benchmark on core burnup calculations for VVER-1000 reactors was noticed. Such a benchmark is useful for validating and verifying the whole package of codes and data libraries for reactor physics calculations including fuel assembly modelling, fuel assembly data preparation, few group data parametrisation and reactor core modelling. The benchmark proposed specifies the core loading patterns of burnup cycles for a VVER-1000 reactor core as well as a set of operational data such as load follow, boron concentration in the coolant, cycle length, measured reactivity coefficients and power density distributions. The reactor core characteristics chosen for comparison and the first results obtained during the work with the reactor physics code DYN3D are presented. This work presents the continuation of efforts of the projects mentioned to estimate the accuracy of calculated characteristics of VVER-1000 reactor cores. In addition, the codes used for reactor physics calculations of safety related reactor core characteristics should be validated and verified for the cases in which they are to be used. This is significant for safety related evaluations and assessments carried out in the framework of licensing and supervision procedures in the field of reactor physics. (authors)

Fuel for new Russian reactor VVER-1200

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Vasilchenko, Ivan Nikitovich [GRPress, 21, Ordzhonikidze Street, 142103 Podolsk, Moscow region (Russian Federation)

2009-06-15

A great program is accepted in Russia on increasing the nuclear power capacities. The basis of the program is commissioning of VVER-1200 Units of AES-2006 design. This is largely an evolutionary project of VVER-1000 reactor plant. It is referred also to reactor core. The plant electric power is increased due to increase in the reactor thermal power and forcing the main parameters and the efficiency increase. With this, reactor pressure increases from 15,7 to 16,2 MPa. The reactor inlet temperature increases from 290 deg. C to 298 deg. C, and outlet temperature from 319 deg. C to 329 deg. C. In a set of the design for four Units (2 Units at Novovoronezh NPP and 2 Units at Leningrad NPP) two base fuel cycles are developed: 5 year and 3 year. To provide such fuel cycles the fuel loading is increased by 8 tons, as compared to VVER-1000 base design, due to fuel column increase by 200 mm and change of fuel pellet sizes. In the mentioned fuel cycles the average burnup in the unloaded batch will be {approx}57 MW.day/kg U and 52 MW.day/kg U (maximum burnup over FAs is 64,5 MW.day/kg U and 60,3 MW.day/kg U), respectively. Specific consumption of natural uranium will be reduced by 5% as compared to that reached at VVER-1000 reactor. In spite of increase in Unit power the limiting permissible fuel rod linear heat rate is decreased from 448 W/cm to 420 W/cm. Refueling pattern is used with small neutron escape. The safety criteria are used that were established for VVER-1000, except for those that did not comply with EUR. For instance, the number of leaky fuel rods under accident is limited. The more stringent requirements are stated on efficiency margin of CPS rods for reactor shutdown that is ensured by the increased number of CPS rods. The well-proved design of fuel assembly TVS-2 and its close modification TVS-2M, operated at Balakovo NPP and Rostov NPP, is laid down in the basis of the core design. The load-carrying component of this structure is a rigid skeleton formed by

Study, analysis, assess and compare the nuclear engineering systems of nuclear power plant with different reactor types VVER-1000, namely AES-91, AES-92 and AES-2006

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Le Van Hong; Tran Chi Thanh; Hoang Minh Giang; Le Dai Dien; Nguyen Nhi Dien; Nguyen Minh Tuan

2015-01-01

On November 25, 2009, in Hanoi, the National Assembly had been approved the resolution about policy for investment of nuclear power project in Ninh Thuan province which include two sites, each site has two units with power around 1000 MWe. For the nuclear power project at Ninh Thuan 1, Vietnam Government signed the Joint-Governmental Agreement with Russian Government for building the nuclear power plant with reactor type VVER. At present time, the Russian Consultant proposed four reactor technologies can be used for Ninh Thuan 1 project, namely: AES-91, AES-92, AES-2006/V491 and AES-2006/V392M. This report presents the main reactor engineering systems of nuclear power plants with VVER-1000/1200. The results from analysis, comparison and assessment between the designs of AES-91, AES-92 and AES-2006 are also presented. The obtained results show that the type AES-2006 is appropriate selection for Vietnam. (author)

Several perspectives on water-chemical cycles for nuclear power stations equipped with type VVER and RBMK reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mamet, A.P.; Mamet, V.A.; Pashevich, V.I.; Nazarenko, P.N.

1982-01-01

Water-chemical cycles for loops I and II of VVER reactors are discussed. These cycles are mixed ammonia-sodium with a variable concentration of boric acid and ammonia hydrazine with a pH factor of 9.1 +/- 0.1. New water-chemical cycles are considered for use in both existing and new nuclear power plants. Application of these new water-chemical cycles showed produce a significant improvement in operating conditions of nuclear power plants. Upon accumulation of sufficient operating experience with these cycles, it should be possible to raise the issue of revising applicable standard documentation

Detailed modeling of KALININ-3 NPP VVER-1000 reactor pressure vessel by the coupled system code ATHLET/BIPR-VVER

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nikonov, S.P.; Velkov, K.; Pautz, A.

2011-01-01

The paper gives an overview of the recent developments of a new reactor pressure vessel (RPV) model of VVER-1000 for the coupled system code ATHLET/BIPR-VVER. Based on the previous experience a methodology is worked out for modeling the RPV in a pseudo-3D way with the help of a multiple parallel thermal-hydraulic channel scheme that follows the hexagonal fuel assembly structure from the bottom to the top of the reactor. The results of the first application of the new modeling are discussed on the base of the OECD/NEA coupled code benchmark for Kalinin-3 NPP transient. Coolant mass flow distributions in reactor volume of VVER 1000 reactor are presented and discussed. It is shown that along the core height a mass flow re-distribution of the coolant takes place starting approximately at an axial layer located 1 meter below the core outlet. (author)

Determination of power density in VVER-1000 Mock-Up in LR-0 reactor

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Košál Michal

2017-01-01

Full Text Available The pin power density is an important quantity which has to be monitored during the reactor operation, for two main reasons. Firstly, it is part of the limits and conditions of safe operation and, secondly, it is source term in neutron transport calculations used for the adequate assessing of the state of core structures and pressure vessel material. It is often calculated using deterministic codes which may have problems with an adequate definition of boundary conditions in subcritical regions. This may lead to overestimation of real situation, and therefore the validation of the utility codes contributes not only to better fuel utilization, but also to more precise description of radiation situation in structural components of core. Current paper presents methods developed at LR-0 reactor, as well as selected results for pin power density measurement in peripheral regions of VVER-1000 mock-up. The presented data show that the results of a utility diffusion code at core boundary overestimate the measurement. This situation, however satisfactory safe, may lead to unduly conservative approach in the determination of radiation damage of core structures.

SCORPIO-VVER core monitoring and surveillance system with advanced capabilities

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Molnar, J.; Vocka, R.

2010-01-01

In this work authors present 12 years of operation experience of core monitoring and surveillance system with advanced capabilities on nuclear power plants on 6 unit of VVER-440 type of reactors at two different NPPs. The original version of the SCORPIO (Surveillance of reactor CORe by PIcture On-line display) system was developed for the western type of PWR reactors. The first version of the SCORPIO-VVER Core Monitoring System for Dukovany NPP (VVER-440 type of reactor, Czech Republic) was developed in 1998. For SCORPIO-VVER implementation at Bohunice NPP in Slovakia (2001) the system was enhanced with startup module KRITEX.

Delayed Neutron Fraction (beta-effective) Calculation for VVER 440 Reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hascik, J.; Michalek, S.; Farkas, G.; Slugen, V.

2008-01-01

Effective delayed neutron fraction (β eff ) is the main parameter in reactor dynamics. In the paper, its possible determination methods are summarized and a β eff calculation for a VVER 440 power reactor as well as for training reactor VR1 using stochastic transport Monte Carlo method based code MCNP5 is made. The uncertainties in determination of basic delayed neutron parameters lead to the unwished conservatism in the reactor control system design and operation. Therefore, the exact determination of the β eff value is the main requirement in the field of reactor dynamics. The interest in the delayed neutron data accuracy improvement started to increase at the end of 80-ties and the beginning of 90-ties, after discrepancies among the results of experiments and measurements what do you mean differences between different calculation approaches and experimental results. In consequence of difficulties in β eff experimental measurement, this value in exact state is determined by calculations. Subsequently, its reliability depends on the calculation method and the delayed neutron data used. An accurate estimate of β eff is essential for converting reactivity, as measured in dollars, to an absolute reactivity and/or to an absolute k eff . In the past, k eff has been traditionally calculated by taking the ratio of the adjoint- and spectrum-weighted delayed neutron production rate to the adjoint- and spectrum-weighted total neutron production rate. An alternative method has also been used in which β eff is calculated from simple k-eigenvalue solutions. The summary of the possible β eff determination methods can be found in this work and also a calculation of β eff first for the training reactor VR1 in one operation state and then for VVER 440 power reactor in two different operation states are made using the prompt method, by MCNP5 code.(author)

Validation of containment thermal hydraulic computer codes for VVER reactor

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Jiri Macek; Lubomir Denk [Nuclear Research Institute Rez plc Thermal-Hydraulic Analyses Department CZ 250 68 Husinec-Rez (Czech Republic)

2005-07-01

Full text of publication follows: The Czech Republic operates 4 VVER-440 units, two VVER-1000 units are being finalized (one of them is undergoing commissioning). Thermal-hydraulics Department of the Nuclear Research Institute Rez performs accident analyses for these plants using a number of computer codes. To model the primary and secondary circuits behaviour the system codes ATHLET, CATHARE, RELAP, TRAC are applied. Containment and pressure-suppression system are modelled with COCOSYS and MELCOR codes, the reactor power calculations (point and space-neutron kinetics) are made with DYN3D, NESTLE and CDF codes (FLUENT, TRIO) are used for some specific problems.An integral part of the current Czech project 'New Energy Sources' is selection of a new nuclear source. Within this and the preceding projects financed by the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade and the EU PHARE, the Department carries and has carried out the systematic validation of thermal-hydraulic and reactor physics computer codes applying data obtained on several experimental facilities as well as the real operational data. One of the important components of the VVER 440/213 NPP is its containment with pressure suppression system (bubble condenser). For safety analyses of this system, computer codes of the type MELCOR and COCOSYS are used in the Czech Republic. These codes were developed for containments of classic PWRs or BWRs. In order to apply these codes for VVER 440 systems, their validation on experimental facilities must be performed.The paper provides concise information on these activities of the NRI and its Thermal-hydraulics Department. The containment system of the VVER 440/213, its functions and approaches to solution of its safety is described with definition of acceptance criteria. A detailed example of the containment code validation on EREC Test facility (LOCA and MSLB) and the consequent utilisation of the results for a real NPP purposes is included. An approach to

Neutron dosimetry in EDF experimental surveillance programme for VVER-440 nuclear power plants

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Brumovsky, M.; Erben, O.; Novosad, P.; Zerola, L.; Hogel, J.; Trollat, C.

2001-01-01

Fourteen chains containing experimental surveillance material specimens of the VVER 440/213 nuclear power reactor pressure vessels were irradiated in the surveillance channels of the Nuclear Power Plant Dukovany in the Czech Republic. The irradiation periods were one, two or three cycles. The chains contained different number and types of containers, the omitted ones were replaced by chain elements. All of the containers were instrumented with wire neutron fluence detectors, some of the containers in the chain had spectrometric sets of neutron fluence monitors. For the absolute fluence values evaluation it was taken into account time history of the reactor power and local changes of the neutron flux along the reactor core height, correction factors due to the orientation of monitors with respect to the reactor core centre. Unfolding programs SAND-II or BASA-CF were used. The relative axial fluence distribution was obtained from the O-wire measurements. Neutron fluence values above 0.5 MeV energy and above 1.0 MeV energy in the container axis on the axial positions of the sample centres and fluence values in the geometric centre of the samples was calculated making use the exponential attenuation model of the incident neutron beam. Received fast neutron fluence values can be used as reference values to all VVER-440 type 213 nuclear power plant reactors. (author)

VVANTAGE 6 - an advanced fuel assembly design for VVER reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Doshi, P.K.; DeMario, E.E.; Knott, R.P.

1993-01-01

Over the last 25 years, Westinghouse fuel assemblies for pressurized water reactors (PWR's) have undergone significant changes to the current VANTAGE 5. VANTAGE 5 PWR fuel includes features such as removable top nozzles, debris filter bottom nozzles, low-pressure-drop zircaloy grids, zircaloy intermediate flow mixing grids, optimized fuel rods, in-fuel burnable absorbers, and increased burnup capability to region average values of 48000 MWD/MTU. These features have now been adopted to the VVER reactors. Westinghouse has completed conceptual designs for an advanced fuel assembly and other core components for VVER-1000 reactors known as VANTAGE 6. This report describes the VVANTAGE 6 fuel assembly design

Problems and prospects connected with development of high-temperature filtration technology at nuclear power plants equipped with VVER-1000 reactors

Science.gov (United States)

Shchelik, S. V.; Pavlov, A. S.

2013-07-01

Results of work on restoring the service properties of filtering material used in the high-temperature reactor coolant purification system of a VVER-1000 reactor are presented. A quantitative assessment is given to the effect from subjecting a high-temperature sorbent to backwashing operations carried out with the use of regular capacities available in the design process circuit in the first years of operation of Unit 3 at the Kalinin nuclear power plant. Approaches to optimizing this process are suggested. A conceptual idea about comprehensively solving the problem of achieving more efficient and safe operation of the high-temperature active water treatment system (AWT-1) on a nuclear power industry-wide scale is outlined.

The review of the reactor physics experiments carried out on the LR-0 research reactor NRI Rez plc for reactors of the VVER type

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hudec, Frantisek; Jansky, Bohumil; Juricek, Vlastimil; Mikus, Jan; Novak, Evzen; Osmera, Bohumil; Posta, Severin; Rypar, Vojtech; Svadlenkova, Marie

2010-01-01

LR-0 is an experimental zero power reactor mainly used for the determination of the neutron-physical characteristics of WWER and PWR type reactor lattices and shielding with UO2 or MOX fuel. Its major assets include capability to design and operate multizone cores, i.e. substituted cores, with an inner inserted part in hexagonal or square geometry (driven by LR-0 standard assemblies); Standard and special supporting plates for mock-up experiments; special supporting plates, which enables the triangular symmetrical assembly arrangement with an arbitrary pitch; Modeling neutron field parameters of power reactors; Wide range benchmarking possibilities, with high reproducibility of the benchmark design parameters; Wide range of measurement techniques including equipment and experienced personal; Flexible rearrangements of the core. The main experiments included: Pin wise flux distribution measurements; VVER-440 and VVER-1000 mock-ups; compact spent fuel storage; space kinetics experiment; core parameters experimental determination; experiment with new design fuel assembly; WWER-440 control assembly influence; and burnable absorber study. International research projects are also described. (P.A.)

Tightening unit EZ 250 for VVER 1000 type reactor pressure vessel head flange joints

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ruchar, Miloslav; Nadenik, Tomas; Kroj, Ludek

2010-01-01

The programme of flange joints tightening by seals made of expanded graphite for VVER 440 and VVER 1000 reactor head flange joints is highlighted, and tightening units of row EZ 650 and EZ 650 TK and KNI for VVER 440 reactor head flange joints and EZ 250 tightening unit for VVER 1000 reactor head flange joints are described in detail. The main advantages of electronically controlled tightening units include: Precise and uniform compression of the gasket during the tightening procedure; Automated solution to the graphite relaxing problem during tightening; Possibility of diagnosis of the thread status of the joints being tightened; Alleviation of operator's tough work; Shorter time of tensioning associated with a lower collective doses; Quick preparation of tightening procedure report from the data measured; Calibration renewal is possible in advance at time of unit storage without the need to place it on a real joint. (P.A.)

Natural circulation in a VVER reactor geometry: Experiments with the PACTEL facility and Cathare simulations

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Raussi, P.; Kainulainen, S. [Lappeenranta Univ. of Technology, Lappeenranta (Finland); Kouhia, J. [VTT Energy, Lappeenranta (Finland)

1995-09-01

There are some 40 reactors based on the VVER design in use. Database available for computer code assessment for VVER reactors is rather limited. Experiments were conducted to study natural circulation behaviour in the PACTEL facility, a medium-scale integral test loop patterned after VVER pressurized water reactors. Flow behaviour over a range of coolant inventories was studied with a small-break experiment. In the small-break experiments, flow stagnation and system repressurization were observed when the water level in the upper plenum fell below the entrances to the hot legs. The cause was attributed to the hot leg loop seals, which are a unique feature of the VVER geometry. At low primary inventories, core cooling was achieved through the boiler-condenser mode. The experiment was simulated using French thermalhydraulic system code CATHARE.

VVER-440 and VVER-1000 reactor dosimetry benchmark - BUGLE-96 versus ALPAN VII.0

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Duo, J. I.

2011-01-01

Document available in abstract form only, full text of document follows: Analytical results of the vodo-vodyanoi energetichesky reactor-(VVER-) 440 and VVER-1000 reactor dosimetry benchmarks developed from engineering mockups at the Nuclear Research Inst. Rez LR-0 reactor are discussed. These benchmarks provide accurate determination of radiation field parameters in the vicinity and over the thickness of the reactor pressure vessel. Measurements are compared to calculated results with two sets of tools: TORT discrete ordinates code and BUGLE-96 cross-section library versus the newly Westinghouse-developed RAPTOR-M3G and ALPAN VII.0. The parallel code RAPTOR-M3G enables detailed neutron distributions in energy and space in reduced computational time. ALPAN VII.0 cross-section library is based on ENDF/B-VII.0 and is designed for reactor dosimetry applications. It uses a unique broad group structure to enhance resolution in thermal-neutron-energy range compared to other analogous libraries. The comparison of fast neutron (E > 0.5 MeV) results shows good agreement (within 10%) between BUGLE-96 and ALPAN VII.O libraries. Furthermore, the results compare well with analogous results of participants of the REDOS program (2005). Finally, the analytical results for fast neutrons agree within 15% with the measurements, for most locations in all three mockups. In general, however, the analytical results underestimate the attenuation through the reactor pressure vessel thickness compared to the measurements. (authors)

Conducting water chemistry of the secondary coolant circuit of VVER-based nuclear power plant units constructed without using copper containing alloys

Science.gov (United States)

Tyapkov, V. F.

2014-07-01

The secondary coolant circuit water chemistry with metering amines began to be put in use in Russia in 2005, and all nuclear power plant units equipped with VVER-1000 reactors have been shifted to operate with this water chemistry for the past seven years. Owing to the use of water chemistry with metering amines, the amount of products from corrosion of structural materials entering into the volume of steam generators has been reduced, and the flow-accelerated corrosion rate of pipelines and equipment has been slowed down. The article presents data on conducting water chemistry in nuclear power plant units with VVER-1000 reactors for the secondary coolant system equipment made without using copper-containing alloys. Statistical data are presented on conducting ammonia-morpholine and ammonia-ethanolamine water chemistries in new-generation operating power units with VVER-1000 reactors with an increased level of pH. The values of cooling water leaks in turbine condensers the tube system of which is made of stainless steel or titanium alloy are given.

BN-1200 Reactor Power Unit Design Development

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Vasilyev, B.A.; Shepelev, S.F.; Ashirmetov, M.R.; Poplavsky, V.M.

2013-01-01

Main goals of BN-1200 design: • Develop a reliable new generation reactor plant for the commercial power unit with fast reactor to implement the first-priority objectives in changing over to closed nuclear fuel cycle; • Improve technical and economic indices of BN reactor power unit to the level of those of Russian VVER of equal power; • Enhance the safety up to the level of the requirements for the 4th generation RP

VVER-specific features regarding core degradation - Status Report

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hozer, Z.; Trambauer, K.; Duspiva, J.

1999-01-01

The objective of this report is to compare VVER reactors to pressurised water reactors (PWRs) of Western design from the point of view of core degradation phenomena using the terminology which was applied to the systematisation of severe accident phenomena in earlier CSNI reports. In the following the acronym 'PWR' is used for a PWR of Western design. The basic design features are described and the most important parameters are summarised in order to identify the differences between the two reactor types. In some specific cases the comparison shows more similarities with boiling water reactors (BWRs) than with PWRs. The known VVER experimental support is also summarised. RBMKs are not included in this report, as this reactor type is not operated in OECD countries, furthermore its design is completely different from those of VVERs and PWRs. The scope of this report is limited to in-vessel severe fuel damage phenomena. Neither thermal hydraulic processes involving no core degradation, nor containment phenomena, are discussed in detail. The VVER (water-cooled water-moderated power reactor) is a pressurised light water reactor of Soviet design. It operates on the same principles as a Western PWR reactor and uses similar technological systems. The primary coolant is pressurised water, which heats up in the reactor core and steam is produced on the secondary side of steam generators. The comparison of basic geometrical and technological parameters pointed out some differences between a PWR and a VVER, but it should be noted that differences exist even between two Western PWRs of different design. The VVER reactors are special types of PWRs, the most important design features of which are the horizontal steam generators and the hexagonal core structure. Similarity between PWR and VVER reactors was found in the comparison of dominant accidents sequences leading to core melt. The accident progression sequence consists of the same steps for VVERs and PWRs. The larger water

NNSA / IAEA VVER reactor safety workshops. May 2002 - April 2003. Executive summary

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Evans, M.; Petri, M. C.

2003-01-01

Over the past year, the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has sponsored four workshops to compare the probabilistic risk assessments (PRAs) of Soviet-designed VVER power plants. The ''International Workshop on Safety of First-Generation VVER-440 Nuclear Power Plants'' was held on May 20-25, 2002, in Piestany, Slovakia. A short follow-on workshop was held in Bratislava, Slovakia, on November 5-6, 2002, to complete the work begun in May. Piestany was the location also for the ''International Workshop on Safety of Second-Generation VVER-440 Nuclear Power Plants'' (September 9-14, 2002) and the ''International Workshop on Safety of VVER-1000 Nuclear Power Plants'' (April 7-12, 2003). The four workshops were held in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of Slovakia (UJD), the Center for Nuclear Safety in Central and Eastern Europe (CENS), and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). The objectives of the workshops were to identify the impact of the improvements on the core damage frequency; the contribution to the PRA results of different assumptions about events that can occur at the plants; and to understand, identify, and prioritize potential improvements in hardware and plant operation of VVER nuclear power plants. These objectives were achieved based on insights gained from recent PRAs completed by the plants and their technical support organizations. Nine first-generation VVER-440 plants (nominally of the VVER-440/230 design) are currently operating in Armenia, Bulgaria, Russia, and Slovakia. Sixteen VVER-440/213 plants are currently operating in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia, and Ukraine. Twenty-three VVER-1000 plants are currently operating in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Russia, and Ukraine. Eleven addition plants are in the advanced stages of construction in various parts of the world. The workshops reviewed the current configuration and safety status of each plant

Radionuclide inventory calculation in VVER and BWR reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bouhaddane, A.; Farkas, F.; Slugen, V.; Ackermann, L.; Schienbein, M.

2014-01-01

The paper shows different aspects in the radionuclide inventory determination. Precise determination of the neutron flux distribution, presented for a BRW reactor, is vital for the activation calculations. The precision can be improved utilizing variance reduction methods as importance treatment, weight windows etc. Direct calculation of the radionuclide inventory via Monte Carlo code is presented for a VVER reactor. Burn-up option utilized in this calculation appears to be proper for reactor internal components. However, it will not be probably effective outside the reactor core. Further calculations in this area are required to support the forth-set findings. (authors)

Transient thermal-hydraulic/neutronic analysis in a VVER-1000 reactor core

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Seyed khalil Mousavian; Mohammad Mohsen Ertejaei; Majid Shahabfar

2005-01-01

Full text of publication follows: Nowadays, coupled thermal-hydraulic and three-dimensional neutronic codes in order to consider different feedback effects is state of the art subject in nuclear engineering researches. In this study, RELAP5/COBRA and WIMS/CITATION codes are implemented to investigate the VVER-1000 reactor core parameters during Large Break Loss of Coolant Accident (LB-LOCA). In a LB-LOCA, the primary side pressure, coolant density and fuel temperature strongly decrease but the cladding temperature experiences a strong peak. For this purpose, the RELAP5 Best Estimate (BE) system code is used to simulate the LB-LOCA analysis in VVER-1000 nuclear thermal-hydraulic loops. Also, the modified COBRA-IIIc software as a sub-channel analysis code is applied for modeling of VVER-1000 reactor core. Moreover, WIMS and CITATION as a cross section and 3-D neutron flux codes are coupled with thermal-hydraulic codes with the aim of consider the spatial effects through the reactor core. For this reason, suitable software is developed to link and speed up the coupled thermalhydraulic and three-dimensional neutronic calculations. This software utilizes of external coupling concept in order to integrate thermal-hydraulic and neutronic calculations. (authors)

Radioactive release from VVER-1000 reactors after a terror attack

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sdouz, G.

2005-01-01

Full text: One of the terror scenarios for nuclear power plants is a severe damage of the reactor containment caused by a plane crash or a missile. Due to the loss of electric power the cooling of the core is not maintained leading to a core melt accident. Normally in the course of severe accidents an intact containment has the ability to retain a large part of the radioactive inventory. The goal of this work is the investigation of the behavior of the radioactive release from a VVER-1000-type reactor during a severe accident with a large containment leak from the beginning of the accident. The results are compared with the release in a severe accident via a very small leakage due to the untightness of the containment. This work supplements a series of studies investigating the behavior of a VVER-1000-type reactor during severe accidents under different accident management strategies. The focus in this study is on the 'station blackout'-sequence (or TMLB' in the WASH-1400 nomenclature). The calculations were performed using the Source Term Code Package (STCP), hydrogen explosions are not considered. Up to the melt-through of the cavity bottom the thermal-hydraulics phenomena are almost identical to the TMLB'-case with an intact containment from the beginning. The phenomena occur slightly delayed due to the large containment leak. When the core-concrete-interaction begins the resulting gases leave the containment through the large leak and do not cause a pressure increase. The containment pressure remains at ambient pressure. Due to the different behavior and to the different release times of the nuclides the deviations to the scenario with an intact containment show a great variety. From this comparison it can be shown that the intact containment retains the nuclides up to a factor of 6000. (author)

Structural mechanisms of the flux effect for VVER-1000 reactor pressure vessel materials

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gurovich, B.; Kuleshova, E.; Fedotova, S.; Maltsev, D.; Zabusov, O.; Frolov, A.; Erak, D.; Zhurko, D.

2015-01-01

To justify the lifetime extension of VVER-1000 reactor pressure vessels (RPV) up to 60 years and more it is necessary to expand the existing surveillance samples database to beyond design fluence by means of accelerated irradiation in a research reactor. Herewith since the changes in mechanical properties of materials under irradiation are due to occurring structural changes, correct analysis of the data obtained at accelerated irradiation of VVER-1000 RPV materials requires a clear understanding of the structural mechanisms that are responsible for the flux effect in VVER-1000 RPV steels. Two mechanisms are responsible for radiation embrittlement of VVER-1000 RPV steels: the hardening one (radiation hardening due to formation of radiation-induced Ni-based precipitates and radiation defects) and non-hardening one (due to formation of impurities segregations at grain boundaries - reversible temper brittleness). In this context for an adequate interpretation of the mechanical tests results when justifying the lifetime extension of existing units a complex of comparative structural studies (TEM, SEM and AES) of VVER-1000 RPV materials irradiated in different conditions (in research reactor IR-8 and within surveillance samples) was performed. It is shown that the flux effect is observed for materials with high nickel content (weld metals with Ni content > 1.35%) and it is mostly due to the contribution of non-hardening mechanism of radiation embrittlement (the difference in the accumulation kinetics of grain boundary phosphorus segregation) and somewhat contribution of the hardening mechanism (the difference in density of radiation-induced precipitates). Therefore when analyzing the results obtained from the accelerated irradiation of VVER-1000 WM the correction for the flux effect should be made. (authors)

Vver-1000 Mox core computational benchmark

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

2006-01-01

The NEA Nuclear Science Committee has established an Expert Group that deals with the status and trends of reactor physics, fuel performance and fuel cycle issues related to disposing of weapons-grade plutonium in mixed-oxide fuel. The objectives of the group are to provide NEA member countries with up-to-date information on, and to develop consensus regarding, core and fuel cycle issues associated with burning weapons-grade plutonium in thermal water reactors (PWR, BWR, VVER-1000, CANDU) and fast reactors (BN-600). These issues concern core physics, fuel performance and reliability, and the capability and flexibility of thermal water reactors and fast reactors to dispose of weapons-grade plutonium in standard fuel cycles. The activities of the NEA Expert Group on Reactor-based Plutonium Disposition are carried out in close co-operation (jointly, in most cases) with the NEA Working Party on Scientific Issues in Reactor Systems (WPRS). A prominent part of these activities include benchmark studies. At the time of preparation of this report, the following benchmarks were completed or in progress: VENUS-2 MOX Core Benchmarks: carried out jointly with the WPRS (formerly the WPPR) (completed); VVER-1000 LEU and MOX Benchmark (completed); KRITZ-2 Benchmarks: carried out jointly with the WPRS (formerly the WPPR) (completed); Hollow and Solid MOX Fuel Behaviour Benchmark (completed); PRIMO MOX Fuel Performance Benchmark (ongoing); VENUS-2 MOX-fuelled Reactor Dosimetry Calculation (ongoing); VVER-1000 In-core Self-powered Neutron Detector Calculational Benchmark (started); MOX Fuel Rod Behaviour in Fast Power Pulse Conditions (started); Benchmark on the VENUS Plutonium Recycling Experiments Configuration 7 (started). This report describes the detailed results of the benchmark investigating the physics of a whole VVER-1000 reactor core using two-thirds low-enriched uranium (LEU) and one-third MOX fuel. It contributes to the computer code certification process and to the

Primary water chemistry for NPP with VVER-TOI

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Susakin, S.N.; Brykov, S.I.; Zadonsky, N.V.; Bystrova, O.S.

2012-09-01

Nowadays within the framework of development of the nuclear power industry in Russia the VVER-TOI reactor is under designing (Standard optimized design). The given design provides for improvement of operation safety level, of technical-economic, operational and load-follow characteristics, and for the raise of competitive capacity of reactor plant and NPP as a whole. In VVER-TOI reactor plant design the primary water chemistry has been improved considering operation experience of VVER reactor plants and a possibility of RP operation under load-follow modes from the viewpoint of meeting the following requirements: - suppression of generation of oxidizing radiolytic products under power operation; - assurance of corrosion resistance of structural materials of equipment and pipelines throughout the NPP design service life; - minimization of deposits on surfaces of the reactor core fuel rods and on heat exchange surface of steam generators; - minimization of accumulation of activated corrosion products; - minimization of the amount of radioactive processing waste. In meeting these requirements an important role is devoted to suppression of generation of oxidizing radiolytic products owing to accumulation of hydrogen in the primary coolant. At NPP with VVER-1000 reactor the ammonia-potassium water chemistry is used wherein the hydrogen accumulation is provided at the expense of ammonia proportioning. Usage of ammonia leads to generation of additional amount of radioactive processing waste and to increased irregularity of maintaining the water chemistry under the daily load-follow modes. In VVER TOI design the primary water chemistry is improved by replacing the proportioning of ammonia with the proportioning of gaseous hydrogen. Different process schemes were considered that provide for a possibility of hydrogen accumulation and maintaining owing to direct proportioning of gaseous hydrogen. The obtained results showed that transition to the potassium water chemistry

Assessment of computer codes for VVER-440/213-type nuclear power plants

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Szabados, L.; Ezsol, Gy.; Perneczky [Atomic Energy Research Institute, Budapest (Hungary)

1995-09-01

Nuclear power plant of VVER-440/213 designed by the former USSR have a number of special features. As a consequence of these features the transient behaviour of such a reactor system should be different from the PWR system behaviour. To study the transient behaviour of the Hungarian Paks Nuclear Power Plant of VVER-440/213-type both analytical and experimental activities have been performed. The experimental basis of the research in the PMK-2 integral-type test facility , which is a scaled down model of the plant. Experiments performed on this facility have been used to assess thermal-hydraulic system codes. Four tests were selected for {open_quotes}Standard Problem Exercises{close_quotes} of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Results of the 4th Exercise, of high international interest, are presented in the paper, focusing on the essential findings of the assessment of computer codes.

Interactive nuclear plant analyzer for the VVER-440 reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Shier, W.; Kennett, R.

1993-01-01

An interactive nuclear plant analyzer (NPA) has been developed for a VVER-440 model 213 reactor for use in the training of plant personnel, the development and verification of plant operating procedures, and in the analysis of various anticipated operational occurrences and accident scenarios. This NPA is operational on an IBM RISC-6000 workstation and utilizes the RELAP5/MOD2 computer code for the calculation of the VVER-440 reactor response to the interactive commands initiated by the NPA operator. Results of the interactive calculation can be through the user-defined, digital display of various plant parameters and through color changes that reflect changes in primary system fluid temperatures, fuel and clad temperatures, and the temperatures of other metal structures. In addition, changes in the status of various components and system can be initiated and/or displayed both numerically and graphically on the mask

Isothermal and thermal–mechanical fatigue of VVER-440 reactor pressure vessel steels

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Fekete, Balazs, E-mail: fekete.mm.bme@gmail.com [College of Dunaujvaros, Tancsics 1A, Dunaujvaros H-2400 (Hungary); Department of Applied Mechanics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Muegyetem 5, Budapest H-1111 (Hungary); Trampus, Peter [College of Dunaujvaros, Tancsics 1A, Dunaujvaros H-2400 (Hungary)

2015-09-15

Highlights: • We aimed to determine the thermomechanical behaviour of VVER reactor steels. • Material tests were developed and performed on GLEEBLE 3800 physical simulator. • Coffin–Manson curves and parameters were derived. • High accuracy of the strain energy based evaluation was found. • The observed dislocation evolution correlates with the mechanical behaviour. - Abstract: The fatigue life of the structural materials 15Ch2MFA (CrMoV-alloyed ferritic steel) and 08Ch18N10T (CrNi-alloyed austenitic steel) of VVER-440 reactor pressure vessel under completely reserved total strain controlled low cycle fatigue tests were investigated. An advanced test facility was developed for GLEEBLE-3800 physical simulator which was able to perform thermomechanical fatigue experiments under in-service conditions of VVER nuclear reactors. The low cycle fatigue results were evaluated with the plastic strain based Coffin–Manson law, and plastic strain energy based model as well. It was shown that both methods are able to predict the fatigue life of reactor pressure vessel steels accurately. Interrupted fatigue tests were also carried out to investigate the kinetic of the fatigue evolution of the materials. On these samples microstructural evaluation by TEM was performed. The investigated low cycle fatigue behavior can provide reference for remaining life assessment and lifetime extension analysis.

An experimental investigation of 1% SBLOCA on PSB-VVER test facility

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Lipatov, I.A.; Dremin, G.I.; Galtchanskaia, S.A.; Gorbunov, Yu.S. [Electrogorsk Research and Engineering Center, EREC, Electrogorsk (Russian Federation); Elkin, I.V. [Russian Research Centre Kurchatov Inst., Moscow (Russian Federation)

2001-07-01

The paper presents the results of the three tests carried out in the PSB-VVER large-scale integral test facility. The PSB-VVER test facility is a four loop, full pressure scaled down model bearing structural similarities to the primary system of the NRP with VVER-1000 Russian design reactor. Volume-power scale is 1/300 while elevation scale is 1/1. (orig.)

The virtual digital nuclear power plant: A modern tool for supporting the lifecycle of VVER-based nuclear power units

Science.gov (United States)

Arkadov, G. V.; Zhukavin, A. P.; Kroshilin, A. E.; Parshikov, I. A.; Solov'ev, S. L.; Shishov, A. V.

2014-10-01

The article describes the "Virtual Digital VVER-Based Nuclear Power Plant" computerized system comprising a totality of verified initial data (sets of input data for a model intended for describing the behavior of nuclear power plant (NPP) systems in design and emergency modes of their operation) and a unified system of new-generation computation codes intended for carrying out coordinated computation of the variety of physical processes in the reactor core and NPP equipment. Experiments with the demonstration version of the "Virtual Digital VVER-Based NPP" computerized system has shown that it is in principle possible to set up a unified system of computation codes in a common software environment for carrying out interconnected calculations of various physical phenomena at NPPs constructed according to the standard AES-2006 project. With the full-scale version of the "Virtual Digital VVER-Based NPP" computerized system put in operation, the concerned engineering, design, construction, and operating organizations will have access to all necessary information relating to the NPP power unit project throughout its entire lifecycle. The domestically developed commercial-grade software product set to operate as an independently operating application to the project will bring about additional competitive advantages in the modern market of nuclear power technologies.

FP 6 EU - COVERS. Coordination action - VVER safety research

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Vasa, I.

2008-01-01

In this work research program of the European Union FP 6 - COVERS coordinated by the NRI Rez is presented. COVERS is designed to improve professional and communication environment in the specific area covering all aspects of safe and reliable operation of nuclear power plants with VVER-440 and VVER-1000 reactors. Project Consortium is composed of 26 research and development, engineering and technical support organisations of European VVER-operating and other EU and non-EU countries.

Control of selected VVER components life time SKODA JS a.s. experience

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zdebor, J.; Pribulla, E.

2005-01-01

Experience from the operation of nuclear power plants with type VVER reactors has shown that the life time management of a number of nuclear reactor components is technically as well as with respect to safety substantiated even at the time which exceeds their originally designed life time. To accept such solution it was necessary to develop and implement a number of programs based on which it was possible to evaluate the actual condition of monitored equipment. It is a condition allowing to adopt solution concerning the possibility of their further operation. Experience from the manufacture of 21 sets of reactor equipment for VVER 440 and 3 sets VVER 1000 has been gathered in SKODA JS a.s. which have been completed by experience from service activities performed at operated nuclear power plants. Analyses of manufacturing data and in-service inspection results completed by a lot of laboratory tests have become the basis for the development of selected VVER components life time management programs. The paper focuses on the life time management of those VVER components which SKODA JS a.s. has most experience with. (authors)

Possible emission of radioactive fission products during off-design accidents at a nuclear power plant with VVER-1000 reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Dubkov, A.P.; Kozlov, V.F.; Luzanova, L.M.

1995-01-01

It is well known that eight nuclear power plants with VVER-1000 reactors have been constructed in Russia, Ukraine, and in the Republic of Belarus and they have been operating successfully without any serious accidents since 1980. These facilities have been analyzed for various accident scenarios, and measures have been incorporated which will prevent core damage during these possible events. However, an off-design accident can occur, and in such a case, the radiological consequences would exceed the worst design accidents. This paper reviews a number of potential off-design accidents in order to develop an accident plan to mitigate the consequences of such an accident

Validation of coupled neutronic / thermal-hydraulic codes for VVER reactors. Final report

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Mittag, S.; Grundmann, U.; Kliem, S.; Kozmenkov, Y.; Rindelhardt, U.; Rohde, U.; Weiss, F.-P.; Langenbuch, S.; Krzykacz-Hausmann, B.; Schmidt, K.-D.; Vanttola, T.; Haemaelaeinen, A.; Kaloinen, E.; Kereszturi, A.; Hegyi, G.; Panka, I.; Hadek, J.; Strmensky, C.; Darilek, P.; Petkov, P.; Stefanova, S.; Kuchin, A.; Khalimonchuk, V.; Hlbocky, P.; Sico, D.; Danilin, S.; Ionov, V.; Nikonov, S.; Powney, D.

2004-08-01

In recent years, the simulation methods for the safety analysis of nuclear power plants have been continuously improved to perform realistic calculations. Therefore in VALCO work package 2 (WP 2), the usual application of coupled neutron-kinetic / thermal-hydraulic codes to VVER has been supplemented by systematic uncertainty and sensitivity analyses. A comprehensive uncertainty analysis has been carried out. The GRS uncertainty and sensitivity method based on the statistical code package SUSA was applied to the two transients studied earlier in SRR-1/95: A load drop of one turbo-generator in Loviisa-1 (VVER-440), and a switch-off of one feed water pump in Balakovo-4 (VVER-1000). The main steps of these analyses and the results obtained by applying different coupled code systems (SMABRE - HEXTRAN, ATHLET - DYN3D, ATHLET - KIKO3D, ATHLET - BIPR-8) are described in this report. The application of this method is only based on variations of input parameter values. No internal code adjustments are needed. An essential result of the analysis using the GRS SUSA methodology is the identification of the input parameters, such as the secondary-circuit pressure, the control-assembly position (as a function of time), and the control-assembly efficiency, that most sensitively affect safety-relevant output parameters, like reactor power, coolant heat-up, and primary pressure. Uncertainty bands for these output parameters have been derived. The variation of potentially uncertain input parameter values as a consequence of uncertain knowledge can activate system actions causing quite different transient evolutions. This gives indications about possible plant conditions that might be reached from the initiating event assuming only small disturbances. In this way, the uncertainty and sensitivity analysis reveals the spectrum of possible transient evolutions. Deviations of SRR-1/95 coupled code calculations from measurements also led to the objective to separate neutron kinetics from

SCORPIO-VVER core monitoring and surveillance system with advanced capabilities

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Molnar, J.; Vocka, R.

2009-01-01

The SCORPIO-VVER system includes following features: 1) Validation of plant measurements and identification of sensor failures. 2) Optimum combination of measurements and calculations to obtain precise values of important parameters. 3) On-line 3D power distribution calculation with pin power reconstruction. 4) Limit checking and thermal margin calculation allowing for surveillance of VVER core limits such as DNBR, Sub-cooling margin, FdH and FQ peeking factors. 5) Integrated modules for monitoring fuel performance and coolant activity for identification of fuel failures. 6) Predictive capabilities and strategy planning, offering the possibility to check the consequences of operational manoeuvres in advance, prediction of critical parameters, etc. 7) Convenient monitoring of approach to criticality during reactor start-up. 8) Automated transition between cycles (fuel reload). The SCORPIO-VVER core monitoring system with its flexible and modular framework successfully responses to the plant operating needs and advances in nuclear fuel cycle strategies and fuel design. Modular framework allows for easy modifications of the system and implementation of new methods in physical modules. Even if the system is installed only on VVER-440 reactors, it could be adapted for VVER-1000 needs

Simulation of mixing effects in a VVER-1000 reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ulrich Bieder; Gauthier Fauchet; Sylvie Betin; Nikola Kolev; Dimitar Popov

2005-01-01

Full text of publication follows: The work presented has been performed in the framework of the OECD/NEA thermalhydraulic benchmark V1000CT-2. This benchmark is related to fluid mixing in the reactor vessel during a MSLB accident scenario in a VVER-1000 reactor. The purpose of the first exercise is to test the capability of CFD codes to represent the coolant mixing in the reactor vessel, in particular in the downcomer and the lower plenum. Coolant mixing in a VVER-1000 V320 reactor was investigated in plant experiments during the commissioning of Kozloduy Unit 5 and 6. Starting from nearly symmetric states, asymmetric loop operation in different combinations was caused by disturbing the steam flow from one or more steam generators. Non-uniform and asymmetric loop flow mixing in the reactor vessel has been observed in the event of asymmetric loop operation. For certain flow patterns there is a shift (swirl) of the main loop flows with respect to the cold leg axes. This azimuthal shift as well as mixing coefficients from cold legs to the fuel assembly inlets have been measured. The presented reference problem is a pure TH problem with given boundary conditions and power distributions. During a stabilization phase, the thermal power of the reactor was 281 MW i.e. 9.36% of the nominal power according to primary balance. Then, a transient was initiated by closing the steam isolation valve of the steam generator one (SG-1) and isolating SG-1 from feed water. The coolant temperature in the cold and hot legs of Loop no 1 rose by 13-13.5 C. After about 20 minutes a stabilized state was reached which is considered as 'final state'. This final state has been analysed with the Trio-U code. Trio-U is a CFD code developed by the CEA Grenoble, aimed to supply an efficient computational tool to simulate transient thermalhydraulic mono-phase turbulent flows encountered in nuclear systems as well as in industrial processes. For the presented study, a LES approach was used. Therefore

Thermal-hydraulic studies on the safety of VVER-440 type nuclear power plants

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tuunanen, J.

1994-01-01

The thesis includes several thermal-hydraulic analyses related to the Loviisa VVER-440 nuclear power plant units. The work consists of experimental studies, analysis of the experiments, analysis of some plant transients and development of a calculational model for calculation of boric concentrations in the reactor. In the first part of thesis, in the case of simulation of boric acid solution behaviour during long-term cooling period of LOCAs, experiments were performed in scaled-down test facilities. The experimental data together with the results of RELAP5/MOD3 simulations were used to develop a model for calculations of boric acid concentrations in the reactor during LOCAs. In the second part, in the case of simulation of horizontal generators, experiments were performed with PACTEL integral test loop to simulate loss of feedwater transients. The PACTEL experiments as well as earlier REWETT-III natural circulation tests, were analyzed with RELAP5/MOD3 Version 5m5 code. The third part of the work consists of simulations of Loviisa VVER reactor pump trip transients with RELAP5/MOD1-Eur, RELAP5/MOD3 and CATHARE codes. (56 refs., 9 figs.)

Implementation of New Reactivity Measurement System and New Reactor Noise Analysis Equipment in a VVER-440 Nuclear Power Plant

Science.gov (United States)

Vegh, János; Kiss, Sándor; Lipcsei, Sándor; Horvath, Csaba; Pos, István; Kiss, Gábor

2010-10-01

The paper deals with two recently developed, high-precision nuclear measurement systems installed at the VVER-440 units of the Hungarian Paks NPP. Both developments were motivated by the reactor power increase to 108%, and by the planned plant service time extension. The first part describes the RMR start-up reactivity measurement system with advanced services. High-precision picoampere meters were installed at each reactor unit and measured ionization chamber current signals are handled by a portable computer providing data acquisition and online reactivity calculation service. Detailed offline evaluation and analysis of reactor start-up measurements can be performed on the portable unit, too. The second part of the paper describes a new reactor noise diagnostics system using state-of-the-art data acquisition hardware and signal processing methods. Details of the new reactor noise measurement evaluation software are also outlined. Noise diagnostics at Paks NPP is a standard tool for core anomaly detection and for long-term noise trend monitoring. Regular application of these systems is illustrated by real plant data, e.g., results of standard reactivity measurements during a reactor startup session are given. Noise applications are also illustrated by real plant measurements; results of core anomaly detection are presented.

Numerical investigation of the coolant mixing during fast deboration transients for VVER-440 type reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hoehne, T.; Rhode, U.

2000-01-01

The VVER-440 (440 MW) V-230 was considered for analyzing the flow field and mixing processes. The V-230 has no elliptical sieve plate in the lower plenum. Previously, the 3D flow distribution in the downcomer and the lower plenum of the VVER-440 reactor have been calculated by means of the CFD code CFX-4 for operational conditions. The CFX-calculations were compared with the experimental data and the analytical mixing model. In this paper, CFD calculations for the start-up of the first main coolant pump in a VVER-440 type reactor are reported about. This scenario is important in case that there is a plug of lower borated water in one of the primary coolant loops. (orig.)

The U.S.-Russian joint studies on using power reactors to disposition surplus weapons plutonium as spent fuel

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chebeskov, A.; Kalashnikov, A.; Pavlovichev, A.

1997-09-01

In 1996, the US and the Russian Federation completed an initial joint study of the candidate options for the disposition of surplus weapons plutonium in both countries. The options included long term storage, immobilization of the plutonium in glass or ceramic for geologic disposal, and the conversion of weapons plutonium to spent fuel in power reactors. For the latter option, the US is only considering the use of existing light water reactors (LWRs) with no new reactor construction for plutonium disposition, or the use of Canadian deuterium uranium (CANDU) heavy water reactors. While Russia advocates building new reactors, the cost is high, and the continuing joint study of the Russian options is considering only the use of existing VVER-1000 LWRs in Russia and possibly Ukraine, the existing BN-60O fast neutron reactor at the Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant in Russia, or the use of the Canadian CANDU reactors. Six of the seven existing VVER-1000 reactors in Russia and the eleven VVER-1000 reactors in Ukraine are all of recent vintage and can be converted to use partial MOX cores. These existing VVER-1000 reactors are capable of converting almost 300 kg of surplus weapons plutonium to spent fuel each year with minimum nuclear power plant modifications. Higher core loads may be achievable in future years

Accident management strategies for VVER-1000 reactors. Part 1: text

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sdouz, G.; Sonneck, G.; Pachole, M.

1994-10-01

This report describes the effect of different accident management strategies on the onset, development and end of the core-concrete-interaction as well as on the containment integrity for a TMLB'-type sequence in a Pressurized Water Reactor of the type VVER- 1000. Using the computer code MARCH3 the following strategies were investigated: (1) One or more Spray and LP ECC Systems available with and without coolers after 10 hours (2) Inclusion of the reactor pressure vessel testing facility room to the cavity (3) Containment venting (4) External water supply and (5) Different electric power restoration times. The results show that some of these accident management measures will maintain the containment integrity and reduce the source term drastically, others will reduce the source term rate. For some measures final conclusions can only be given after complete source term calculations have been performed. (authors)

Investigations of SPND noise signals in VVER-440 reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kiss, S.; Lipcsei, S.; Hazi, G.

2001-01-01

This paper describes and characterises SPND noise measurements of an operating VVER-440 nuclear reactor. Characteristics of the signal can be radically influenced by the geometrical properties of the detector and the cable and by the measuring arrangement. Structure of phase spectra showing propagating perturbations measured on uncompensated SPN detectors is studied through models.(author)

The most extensive reconstruction of nuclear power plant with VVER 440/V230 reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ferenc, M.

2000-01-01

The nuclear power plant V-1 Bohunice consists of two VVER-440 units with V-230 reactors. Unit 1 was commissioned in 1978 and Unit 2 in 1980. Large experience and knowledge from the operation of previous units with V-230 reactors were incorporated into the V-1 design, which resulted in a higher level of safety and operational reliability of these units. The Siemens company which won an international bidding process developed these basic goals for the Gradual Upgrading into the so called Basic Engineering (BE). For the implementation of the Gradual Upgrading in line with the BE, Rekon consortium was established consisting of Siemens and VUJE. The implementation of the Gradual Upgrading is scheduled for the time period of 1996 - 2000. Siemens was responsible for the upgrading strategy - based on the approved results of the basic engineering phase and the PSAR, the engineering and realization of all I and C improvements, and also for the seismic upgrade. VUJE's responsibility covered the detailed engineering and implementation of mechanical, electrical and civil part of upgrading measures as well as overall organisation and evaluation of verification tests. The consortium awarded contracts for final planning and design, installation services and commissioning to other Slovakian subcontractors in order to ensure the largest possible local content. The gradual reconstruction of the V-1 Bohunice with V230 reactors represents a comprehensive reconstruction of safety-related systems and equipment. Following its completion, the units will be operated with a safety level accepted internationally. (author)

Analysing The Thermalhydraulic Parameters Of VVER-1000 Reactor For The Accident Of Steam Generator Tube Rupture

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Luu Nam Hai; Truong Cong Thang

2011-01-01

To ensure the safety operation of nuclear power plant (NPP), a lot of postulated accident scenarios were considered and analysed. This research chose and analysed the accident of steam generator tube rupture (SGTR) under the actual plant conditions by using the simulation program PCTRAN. The SGTR accident is happen when the NPP is under operation with the steady state condition (power of 3000 MWth, primary pressure of 157 bar and secondary pressure of 63 bar). The accident is initiated by creating a break with equivalent diameter of 100 mm in the area of lower row heat exchanging tubes. The result of analysis is compared with the calculation of the Shariz University, Iran using the thermal hydraulics code RELAP5/mod3.2 and the report in the PSAR data of VVER-1000. This comparison shows that it is possible for using PCTRAN to analyse accidents of VVER-1000 reactor. (author)

The status of the Bubbler Condenser Containment System for the Reactors of the VVER-440/213 Type

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Karwat, H.; Rosinger, H.E.

1998-01-01

VVER-440/213 Pressurized Water Reactors have a pressure-suppression containment structure called a 'Bubbler Condenser' tower which can reduce the design pressure of the entire containment following a design basis accident (DBA), such as a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA). The bubbler condenser pressure suppression system provides reduction of the LOCA containment pressure by the condensation of released steam in a water pool. World-wide there are 14 nuclear power plants of the VVER-440/213 type in Eastern Europe and Russia. One of the safety concerns for the VVER-440/213 reactors relates to the ability of the bubbler condenser containment system to function satisfactorily and to maintain its integrity following certain postulated accidents and thus limit the release of radioactive material to the environment. The complicated geometry of the bubbler condenser unit, and the dependence on several moving devices and interlocks are the main doubts expressed by different specialists with regard to the design. General description of the bubbler condenser containment system, the physical processes, concerns and design assessment of the bubbler condenser containment system, presentation of the OECD's Unified Bubbler Condenser Research Project (UBCRP) and the European Commission PHARE/TACIS project. Recent utility investigations are also discussed

Safety related investigations of the VVER-1000 reactor type by the coupled code system TRACE/PARCS

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Jaeger, Wadim; Lischke, Wolfgang; Sanchez Espinoza, Victor Hugo

2007-01-01

This study was performed at the Institute of Reactor Safety at the Research Center Karlsruhe. It is embedded in the ongoing investigations of the international code application and maintenance program (CAMP) for qualification and validation of system codes like TRACE [1] and PARCS [2]. The predestinated reactor type for the validation of these two codes was the Russian designed VVER-1000 because the OECD/NEA VVER-1000 Coolant Transient Benchmark Phase 2 [3] includes detailed information of the Bulgarian nuclear power plant (NPP) Kozloduy unit 6. The posttest-investigations of a coolant mixing experiment have shown that the predicted parameters (coolant temperature, pressure drop, etc.) are in good agreement to the measured data. The coolant mixing pattern especially in the downcomer has been also reproduced quiet well by TRACE. The coupled code system TRACE/PARCS which was applied on a postulated main steam line break (MSLB) provides good results compared to reference values and the ones of other participants of the benchmark. It can be pointed out that the developed three-dimensional nodalisation of the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) is appropriate for the description of transients where the thermal-hydraulics and the neutronics are strongly linked. (author)

Analysis of the VVER-440 reactor steam generator secondary side with the RELAP5/MOD3 code

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tuunanen, J.

1993-01-01

Nuclear Engineering Laboratory of the Technical Research Centre of Finland has widely used RELAP5/MOD2 and -MOD3 codes to simulate horizontal steam generators. Several models have been developed and successfully used in the VVER-safety analysis. Nevertheless, the models developed have included only rather few nodes in the steam generator secondary side. The secondary side has normally been divided into about 10 to 15 nodes. Since the secondary side at the steam generators of VVER-440 type reactors consists of a rather large water pool, these models were only roughly capable to predict secondary side flows. The paper describes an attempt to use RELAP5/MOD3 code to predict secondary side flows in a steam generator of a VVER-440 reactor. A 2D/3D model has been developed using RELAP5/MOD3 codes cross-flow junctions. The model includes 90 volumes on the steam generator secondary side. The model has been used to calculate steady state flow conditions in the secondary side of a VVER-440 reactor steam generator. (orig.) (1 ref., 9 figs., 2 tabs.)

Application of the Defense-in-Depth Concept in the Projects of New-Generation NPPs Equipped with VVER Reactors

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Shvyryaev, Yu. V.; Morozov, V. B.; Kuchumov, A.Yu., E-mail: morozov@aep.ru [JSC Atomenergoproekt, Moscow (Russian Federation)

2014-10-15

The projects of new-generation NPPs equipped with VVER reactors are developed as projects the safety level of which is superior to that of NPPs that are currently in operation. The main design solutions adopted for implementing the defence-in-depth (DiD) concept in the projects of new-generation NPPs equipped with VVER reactors are briefly characterized in the paper. (author)

Pressure loadings of Soviet-designed VVER [Water-Cooled, Water-Moderated Energy Reactor] reactor release mitigation structures from large-break LOCAs

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sienicki, J.J.; Horak, W.C.

1989-01-01

Analyses have been carried out of the pressurization of the accident release mitigation structures of Soviet-designed VVER (Water-Cooled, Water-Moderated Energy Reactor) pressurized water reactors following large-break loss-of-coolant accidents. Specific VVER systems for which calculations were performed are the VVER-440 model V230, VVER-440 model V213, and VVER-1000 model V320. Descriptions of the designs of these and other VVER models are contained in the report DOE/NE-0084. The principal objective of the current analyses is to calculate the time dependent pressure loadings inside the accident localization or containment structures immediately following the double-ended guillotine rupture of a primary coolant pipe. In addition, the pressures are compared with the results of calculations of the response of the structures to overpressure. Primary coolant system thermal hydraulic conditions and the fluid conditions at the break location were calculated with the RETRAN-02 Mod2 computer code (Agee, 1984). Pressures and temperatures inside the building accident release mitigation structures were obtained from the PACER (Pressurization Accompanying Coolant Escape from Ruptures) multicompartment containment analysis code developed at Argonne National Laboratory. The analyses were carried out using best estimate models and conditions rather than conservative, bounding-type assumptions. In particular, condensation upon structure and equipment was calculated using correlations based upon analyses of the HDR, Marviken, and Battelle Frankfurt containment loading experiments. The intercompartment flow rates incorporate an effective discharge coefficient and liquid droplet carryover fraction given by expressions of Schwan determined from analyses of the Battelle Frankfurt and Marviken tests. 5 refs., 4 figs

Isothermal and thermal-mechanical fatigue of VVER-440 reactor pressure vessel steels

Science.gov (United States)

Fekete, Balazs; Trampus, Peter

2015-09-01

The fatigue life of the structural materials 15Ch2MFA (CrMoV-alloyed ferritic steel) and 08Ch18N10T (CrNi-alloyed austenitic steel) of VVER-440 reactor pressure vessel under completely reserved total strain controlled low cycle fatigue tests were investigated. An advanced test facility was developed for GLEEBLE-3800 physical simulator which was able to perform thermomechanical fatigue experiments under in-service conditions of VVER nuclear reactors. The low cycle fatigue results were evaluated with the plastic strain based Coffin-Manson law, and plastic strain energy based model as well. It was shown that both methods are able to predict the fatigue life of reactor pressure vessel steels accurately. Interrupted fatigue tests were also carried out to investigate the kinetic of the fatigue evolution of the materials. On these samples microstructural evaluation by TEM was performed. The investigated low cycle fatigue behavior can provide reference for remaining life assessment and lifetime extension analysis.

Evaluating the consequences of loss of flow accident for a typical VVER-1000 nuclear reactor

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Mirvakili, S.M.; Safaei, S. [Shiraz Univ., Shiraz (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering; Faghihi, F. [Shiraz Univ., Shiraz (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Safety Research Center

2010-07-01

The loss of coolant flow in a nuclear reactor can result from a mechanical or electrical failure of the coolant pump. If the reactor is not tripped promptly, the immediate effect is a rapid increase in coolant temperature, decrease in minimum departure from nucleate boiling ratio (DNBR) and fuel damage. This study evaluated the shaft seizure of a reactor coolant pump in a VVER-1000 nuclear reactor. The locked rotor results in rapid reduction of flow through the affected reactor coolant loop and in turn leads to an increase in the primary coolant temperature and pressure. The analysis was conducted with regard for superimposing loss of power to the power plant at the initial accident moment. The required transient functions of flow, pressure and power were obtained using system transient calculations applied in COBRA-EN computer code in order to calculate the overall core thermal-hydraulic parameters such as temperature, critical heat flux and DNBR. The study showed that the critical period for the locked rotor accident is the first few seconds during which the maximum values of pressure and temperature are reached. 10 refs., 1 tab., 3 figs.

Coupled neutronic core and subchannel analysis of nanofluids in VVER-1000 type reactor

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Zarifi, Ehsan; Sepanloo, Kamran [Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Reactor and Nuclear Safety School; Jahanfarnia, Golamreza [Islamic Azad Univ., Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, Science and Research Branch

2017-05-15

This study is aimed to perform the coupled thermal-hydraulic/neutronic analysis of nanofluids as the coolant in the hot fuel assembly of VVER-1000 reactor core. Water-based nanofluid containing various volume fractions of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticle is analyzed. WIMS and CITATION codes are used for neutronic simulation of the reactor core, calculating neutron flux and thermal power distribution. In the thermal-hydraulic modeling, the porous media approach is used to analyze the thermal behavior of the reactor core and the subchannel analysis is used to calculate the hottest fuel assembly thermal-hydraulic parameters. The derived conservation equations for coolant and conduction heat transfer equation for fuel and clad are discretized by Finite volume method and solved numerically using visual FORTRAN program. Finally the analysis results for nanofluids and pure water are compared together. The achieved results show that at low concentration (0.1 percent volume fraction) alumina is the optimum nanoparticles for normal reactor operation.

The effect of boron dilution transient on the VVER-1000 reactor core using MCNP and COBRA-EN codes

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Jafari, Naser; Talebi, Saeed [Amirkabir Univ. of Technology, Tehran Polytechnic (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Dept. of Energy Engineering and Physics

2017-07-15

In this paper, the effect of boron dilution transient, as a consequence of the malfunction of the boron control system, was investigated in a VVER-1000 reactor, and then an appropriate setpoint was determined for the actuation of the emergency protection system to the reactor shutdown. In order to simulate the boron dilution, first, the whole reactor core was simulated by MCNPX code to compute the radial and axial power distribution. Then, the COBRA-EN code was employed using calculated power distribution for analyzing the thermal-hydraulic of hot fuel assembly and for extracting the safety parameters. For the safe operation of the reactor, certain parameters must be in defined specified ranges. Comparison between our results and FSARs data shows that the present modeling provides a good prediction of boron dilution transient with the maximum relative difference about 4%.

CFD analysis of flow distribution of reactor core and temperature rise of coolant in fuel assembly for VVER reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Du Daiquan; Zeng Xiaokang; Xiong Wanyu; Yang Xiaoqiang

2015-01-01

Flow field of VVER-1000 reactor core was investigated by using computational fluid dynamics code CFX, and the temperature rise of coolant in hot assembly was calculated. The results show that the maximum value of flow distribution factor is 1.12 and the minimum value is 0.92. The average value of flow distribution factor in hot assembly is 0.97. The temperature rise in hot assembly is higher than current warning limit value ΔT t under the deviated operation condition. The results can provide reference for setting ΔT t during the operation of nuclear power plant. (authors)

Issues in the use of Weapons-Grade MOX Fuel in VVER-1000 Nuclear Reactors: Comparison of UO2 and MOX Fuels

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Carbajo, J.J.

2005-05-27

The purpose of this report is to quantify the differences between mixed oxide (MOX) and low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuels and to assess in reasonable detail the potential impacts of MOX fuel use in VVER-1000 nuclear power plants in Russia. This report is a generic tool to assist in the identification of plant modifications that may be required to accommodate receiving, storing, handling, irradiating, and disposing of MOX fuel in VVER-1000 reactors. The report is based on information from work performed by Russian and U.S. institutions. The report quantifies each issue, and the differences between LEU and MOX fuels are described as accurately as possible, given the current sources of data.

System analysis of nuclear safety of VVER reactor with MOX fuel

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Klimov, A.D.; Zharkov, V.P.; Suslov, I.R. [Russia, Moscow Malaya Krasnoselskaya St. (Russian Federation); Boyarinov, V.F.; Kevrolev, V.V.; Tchibinyaev, A.V.; Tsibulskiy, V.F. [RRC KI, Russia, Moscow (Russian Federation); Kochurov, B.P. [ITEP, Russia, Moscow (Russian Federation); Giovanni, B. [NFPSC, FRAMATOME (France)

2005-07-01

The report presents a short summary of the results achieved in the ISTC (International Science and Technology Center) project 'System analysis of nuclear safety of VVER reactor with MOX fuel' (April 2005). The studies within the project are of a systematic character and include the solutions of 15 tasks. The report gives an overview of the major blocks of these tasks: neutron transport equation solution; calculations of isotopic vectors, analysis of the impact of uncertainties on predicted reactor functionals. The calculation methods, the verification results and the corresponding codes are briefly described. (authors)

Evaluation of VVER-1200/V-491 reactor pressure vessel integrity during large break LOCA along with SBO using MELCOR 1.8.6

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bui Thi Hoa; Tran Chi Thanh

2015-01-01

After Fukushima accident and stress test recommended by IAEA for existing reactors, higher safety requirements are enforced upon nuclear power plants during design extension and severe accident conditions. Based on those arguments, Vietnam Government requests a lot of effective safety solutions, in designs proposed for the nuclear power plants in Ninh Thuan province of Vietnam, which can prevent the accident progression toward severe accidents and mitigate severe accident consequences. One of safety requirements is related to delay time of core melt during design extension condition. Especially, if the worst case of accidents occurs, the reactor vessel integrity must be maintained at least 24 hours from the beginning of the accident. With the aim at investigation of Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) integrity, in this study, MELCOR 1.8.6 code is used to evaluate the integrity of RPV lower head for VVER-1200/V-491 reactor during a Large Break Loss of Coolant Accident (LBLOCA) in combination with Station Blackout (SBO) event. The study figures out several parameters related to melt down progress such as: rupture position and rupture timing, the amount of hydrogen generated. Availability of the second stage hydro-accumulators (HA2) in the VVER-1200/V-491 is assumed as an additional improvement to delay the timing of core melt as well as to maintain the vessel integrity for long-term. (author)

Increase in VVER type reactor critical heat fluxes due to placing the mixing grids

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bezrukov, Y.; Lisenkov, E.; Vasilchenko, I.

2011-01-01

The report deals with the results of studies of critical heat fluxes (CHF) on the models of VVER type reactor fuel assembly models equipped with the 'Vihr' intensifiers-grids. The models are the seven-rod bundles with the uniform and non-uniform axial power that correspond to two periods of FA operation i.e. beginning of cycle and end of cycle. The experiments performed showed that the mixing grids of this type are capable of increasing the FA burnout power. The power ascension rate depends on both coolant pressure and steam quality value in the CHF point. Placing the mixing grids in the bundle upper spans results in shifting the point of DNB occurrence downward along the FA height. The experimental data obtained will be used to develop the correlations for determining the CHF in the FA equipped with the mixing grids. (authors)

Study of long-term loss of all AC power supply sources for VVER-1000/V320 in connection with application of new engineering safety features for SAMG

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Borisov, Evgeni; Grigorov, Dobrin; Mancheva, Kaliopa

2013-01-01

Highlights: • In this study we presented analysis for a new SAMG approach. • The approach is applicable for all PWR reactors from 2nd generation. • We investigated two scenarios with total black out. • The RELAP/MOD 3.2 computer code is used in performing the analyses. - Abstract: This paper presents the results of analysis for application of a new Severe Accident Management Guideline (SAMG) approach which is specifically applied for VVER-1000/B320 reactor installations. In general, this innovative approach is fully applicable for all the pressurized water reactors from second generation. The purposes of the analysis for the new SAMG approach application are as follows: • To represent suggestions for new engineering safety features application for SAMG strategies. • To assess the applicability of the new engineering safety features and means for SAMG strategies in case of loss of all off-site power supply sources for VVER-1000/B320 reactor installations. • To represent important operator actions and to analyse the effectiveness of these actions for accidents management in compliance with the new approach. • The RELAP5/MOD3.3 computer code has been used in performing the analyses in a VVER-1000 Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) model. The input data deck for the analysis is optimized, verified and validated

Comparison of problems and experience of core operation with distorted fuel element assemblies in VVER-1000 and PWR reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Afanas'ev, A.

1999-01-01

The main reactors leading to distortion of fuel element assemblies during reactor operation were studied. A series of actions which compensate this effect was proposed. Criteria of operation limitation in VVER-1000 and PWR reactors are described

Core designs for new VVER reactors and operational experience of immediate prototypes

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Vasilchenko, I.; Mokhov, V.; Ryzhov, S.

2011-01-01

The paper covers the recent improvements analyzed in order to implement the enhanced core performances. AES-2006 reactor core design is considered from the point of view of its application and improvement in the planned VVER-TOI project and of the possibilities of using the basic engineering solutions for the cores with spectral control. The discussion of several types of mixing grids considered in the paper involves a preliminary assessment of their efficiency and the information on their introduction into pilot operation at the VVER-1000 Units. Special attention is given to the results of the operation of immediate prototypes (TVS-2 and TVS-2M) that corroborate the reliability of the design both with regard for the core geometrical stability and fuel cladding tightness

Ukrainian Nuclear Society International Conference 'Modernization of the NPP with VVER reactor' (abstracts)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bar'yakhtar, V.G.

1999-01-01

Abstracts of the papers presented at International conference of the Ukrainian Nuclear Society 'Modernization of the NPP with VVER reactor'. The following problems are considered: improving the NPP's safety and reliability; reactor modernization, the lifetime prolongation; increasing of the reactor operating characteristics; methods of capacity factor increasing: refueling control, maintenance control; technical and economical aspects of NPP modernization; modernization of the automated control system of the fuel process at the NPP's; technical features and methods for the continued radiation and technology control at the NPP's; training, increasing the staff qualification and NPP modernization

The FARC fuel archive of VVER

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zizin, M.N.; Parfenova, N.A.; Proselkov, V.N.; Shishkov, L.K.

1998-01-01

The principles of organisation are explained and the structure of the FARC fuel archive for VVER reactors is described. The objective of the archive is accumulation of fuel data, data storage and obtaining the fuel using characteristics. The working version of fuel archive on 01.07.98 is realised, in which the data tables for fuel assemblies for 169 VVER-440 cycles and 35 VVER-1000 cycles are stored. There are two different versions of fuel archive - for VVER-440 (FARC) and for VVER-1000 (FARC1000). A structure of some tables and the texts of programs for them differ. The algorithms and codes for checking integrity, reasonableness and reliability of fuel archive data are developed. (author)

Inspection qualification programme for VVER reactors and review of round robin test results

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Horacek, L.; Zdarek, J.

1998-01-01

Experience obtained, especially from in-service inspections of VVER 440-type reactor pressure vessels and from the Czech round test trials with international participation of ultrasonic teams, has highlighted the need for an in-service inspection qualification programme in the Czech Republic focused on NDT procedures, equipment and personnel. Recently, several national and international regional projects included in the PHARE programme (projects 4.1.2/93 and 1.02/94), briefly described, have been initiated. These projects are to cover step by step the programme of the in-service inspection qualification in view of technical justification as well as of practical assessment-performance demonstration-for all the main VVER-type primary circuit components. (orig.)

Qualification of the nuclear reactor core model DYN3D coupled to the thermohydraulic system code ATHLET, applied as an advanced tool for accident analysis of VVER-type reactors. Final report

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Grundmann, U.; Kliem, S.; Krepper, E.; Mittag, S; Rohde, U.; Schaefer, F.; Seidel, A.

1998-03-01

The nuclear reactor core model DYN3D with 3D neutron kinetics has been coupled to the thermohydraulic system code ATHLET. In the report, activities on qualification of the coupled code complex ATHLET-DYN3D as a validated tool for the accident analysis of russian VVER type reactors are described. That includes: - Contributions to the validation of the single codes ATHLET and DYN3D by the analysis of experiments on natural circulation behaviour in thermohydraulic test facilities and solution of benchmark tasks on reactivity initiated transients, - the acquisition and evaluation of measurement data on transients in nuclear power plants, the validation of ATHLET-DYN3D by calculating an accident with delayed scram and a pump trip in VVER plants, - the complementary improvement of the code DYN3D by extension of the neutron physical data base, implementation of an improved coolant mixing model, consideration of decay heat release and xenon transients, - the analysis of steam leak scenarios for VVER-440 type reactors with failure of different safety systems, investigation of different model options. The analyses showed, that with realistic coolant mixing modelling in the downcomer and the lower plenum, recriticality of the scramed reactor due to overcooling can be reached. The application of the code complex ATHLET-DYN3D in Czech Republic, Bulgaria and the Ukraine has been started. Future work comprises the verification of ATHLET-DYN3D with a DYN3D version for the square fuel element geometry of western PWR. (orig.) [de

Adoption of in-vessel retention concept for VVER-440/V213 reactors in Central European Countries

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Matejovic, Peter, E-mail: peter.matejovic@ivstt.sk [Inzinierska Vypoctova Spolocnost (IVS), Jana Holleho 5, 91701 Trnava (Slovakia); Barnak, Miroslav; Bachraty, Milan; Vranka, Lubomir [Inzinierska Vypoctova Spolocnost (IVS), Jana Holleho 5, 91701 Trnava (Slovakia); Berky, Robert [Integrita a Bezpecnost Ocelovych Konstrukcii, Rybnicna 40, 831 07 Bratislava (Slovakia)

2017-04-01

Highlights: • Design of in-vessel retention concept for VVER-440/V213 reactors. • Thermal loads acting on the inner reactor surface. • Structural response of reactor pressure vessel. • External reactor vessel cooling. - Abstract: An in-vessel retention (IVR) concept was proposed for standard VVER-440/V213 reactors equipped with confinement made of reinforced concrete and bubbler condenser pressure suppression system. This IVR concept is based on simple modifications of existing plant technology and thus it was attractive for plant operators in Central European Countries. Contrary to the solution that was adopted before at Loviisa NPP in Finland (two units of VVER-440/V213 reactor with steel confinement equipped with ice condenser), the coolant access to the reactor pressure vessel from flooded cavity is enabled via closable hole installed in the centre of thermal shield of the reactor lower head instead of lowering this massive structure in the case of severe accident. As a consequence, the crucial point of this IVR concept is narrow gap between torispherical lower head and thermal and biological shield. Here the highest thermal flux is expected in the case of severe accident. Thus, realistic estimation of thermal load and corresponding deformations of reactor wall and their impact on gap width for coolant flow are of primarily importance. In this contribution the attention is paid especially to the analytical support with emphasis to the following points: 1) {sup ∗}Estimation of thermal loads acting on the inner reactor surface; 2) {sup ∗}Estimation of structural response of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) with emphasis on the deformation of outer reactor surface and its impact on the annular gap between RPV wall and thermal/biological shield; 3) {sup ∗}Analysis of external reactor vessel cooling. For this purpose the ASTEC code was used for performing analysis of core degradation scenarios, the ANSYS code for structural analysis of reactor vessel

Accident analysis for new reactor concepts and VVER type reactor design with advanced fuel. STC with Russia. Final report

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Grundmann, U.; Kliem, S.; Mittag, S.; Rohde, U.; Seidel, A.

2000-10-01

In the frame of a project on scientific-technical cooperation funded by BMBF/BMWi, the 3D reactor dynamics code DYN3D developed at Forschungszentrum Rossendorf (FZR), has been transferred to the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (IPPE) Obninsk in Russia and integrated into the software package of IPPE. DYN3D has been coupled to a thermohydraulic system code used in IPPE making available 3D neutron kinetics within this software package. A new macroscopic cross section library has been created using a modified version of the WIMS/D4 code. This library includes data for modernized fuel design containing burnable absorbers in different concentrations, which is tested in VVER-1000 type reactors. The cross section library has been connected to DYN3D. Calculations were performed to check the library in comparison with other data libraries and codes. The code DYN3D and the coupled 3D neutron kinetics/thermal hydraulics code system were used to perform analyses of Anticipated Transients Without Scram (ATWS) for the reactor design ABV-67, an integral reactor concept with small power developed under participation of IPPE. The fluid dynamics code DINCOR developed at IPPE was transferred to FZR. It was used in validation calculations on test problems for the short-term core melt behaviour (CORVIS experiments). (orig.) [de

Microstructure and embrittlement of VVER 440 reactor pressure vessel steels

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hennion, A.

1999-03-01

27 VVER 440 pressurised water reactors operate in former Soviet Union and in Eastern Europe. The pressure vessel, is made of Cr-Mo-V steel. It contains a circumferential arc weld in front of the nuclear core. This weld undergoes a high neutron flux and contains large amounts of copper and phosphorus, elements well known for their embrittlement potency under irradiation. The embrittlement kinetic of the steel is accelerated, reducing the lifetime of the reactor. In order to get informations on the microstructure and mechanical properties of these steels, base metals, HAZ, and weld metals have been characterized. The high amount of phosphorus in weld metals promotes the reverse temper embrittlement that occurs during post-weld heat treatment. The radiation damage structure has been identified by small angle neutron scattering, atomic probe, and transmission electron microscopy. Nanometer-sized clusters of solute atoms, rich in copper with almost the same characteristics as in western pressure vessels steels, and an evolution of the size distribution of vanadium carbides, which are present on dislocation structure, are observed. These defects disappear during post-irradiation tempering. As in western steels, the embrittlement is due to both hardening and reduction of interphase cohesion. The radiation damage specificity of VVER steels arises from their high amount of phosphorus and from their significant density of fine vanadium carbides. (author)

Effect of uncompensated SPN detector cables on neutron noise signals measured in VVER-440 reactors

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kiss, S. E-mail: kisss@sunserv.kfki.hu; Lipcsei, S. E-mail: lipcsei@sunserv.kfki.hu; Hazi, G. E-mail: gah@sunserv.kfki.hu

2003-03-01

The Self Powered Neutron Detector (SPND) noise measurements of an operating VVER-440 nuclear reactor are described and characterised. Signal characteristics may be radically influenced by the geometrical properties of the detector and the cable, and by the measuring arrangement. Simulator is used as a means of studying the structure of those phase spectra that show propagating perturbations measured on uncompensated SPN detectors. The paper presents measurements with detectors of very different sizes (i.e. 20 cm length SPNDs and the 200 cm length compensation cables), where the ratios of the global and local component differ significantly for the different detector sizes. This phenomenon is used up for signal compensation.

Study of Fast Transient Pressure Drop in VVER-1000 Nuclear Reactor Using Acoustic Phenomenon

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Soroush Heidari Sangestani

2018-01-01

Full Text Available This article aims to simulate the sudden and fast pressure drop of VVER-1000 reactor core coolant, regarding acoustic phenomenon. It is used to acquire a more accurate method in order to simulate the various accidents of reactor core. Neutronic equations should be solved concurrently by means of DRAGON 4 and DONJON 4 coupling codes. The results of the developed package are compared with WIMS/CITATION and final safety analysis report of Bushehr VVER-1000 reactor (FSAR. Afterwards, time dependent thermal-hydraulic equations are answered by employing Single Heated Channel by Sectionalized Compressible Fluid method. Then, the obtained results were validated by the same transient simulation in a pressurized water reactor core. Then, thermal-hydraulic and neutronic modules are coupled concurrently by use of producing group constants regarding the thermal feedback effect. Results were compared to the mentioned transient simulation in RELAP5 computer code, which show that mass flux drop is sensed at the end of channel in several milliseconds which causes heat flux drop too. The thermal feedback resulted in production of some perturbations in the changes of these parameters. The achieved results for this very fast pressure drop represent accurate calculations of thermoneutronic parameters fast changes.

Development of a VVER-1000 core loading pattern optimization program based on perturbation theory

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hosseini, Mohammad; Vosoughi, Naser

2012-01-01

Highlights: ► We use perturbation theory to find an optimum fuel loading pattern in a VVER-1000. ► We provide a software for in-core fuel management optimization. ► We consider two objectives for our method (perturbation theory). ► We show that perturbation theory method is very fast and accurate for optimization. - Abstract: In-core nuclear fuel management is one of the most important concerns in the design of nuclear reactors. Two main goals in core fuel loading pattern design optimization are maximizing the core effective multiplication factor in order to extract the maximum energy, and keeping the local power peaking factor lower than a predetermined value to maintain the fuel integrity. Because of the numerous possible patterns of fuel assemblies in the reactor core, finding the best configuration is so important and challenging. Different techniques for optimization of fuel loading pattern in the reactor core have been introduced by now. In this study, a software is programmed in C language to find an order of the fuel loading pattern of a VVER-1000 reactor core using the perturbation theory. Our optimization method is based on minimizing the radial power peaking factor. The optimization process launches by considering an initial loading pattern and the specifications of the fuel assemblies which are given as the input of the software. The results on a typical VVER-1000 reactor reveal that the method could reach to a pattern with an allowed radial power peaking factor and increases the cycle length 1.1 days, as well.

Perspectives for practical application of the combined fuel kernels in VVER-type reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Baranov, V.; Ternovykh, M.; Tikhomirov, G.; Khlunov, A.; Tenishev, A.; Kurina, I.

2011-01-01

The paper considers the main physical processes that take place in fuel kernels under real operation conditions of VVER-type reactors. Main attention is given to the effects induced by combinations of layers with different physical properties inside of fuel kernels on these physical processes. Basic neutron-physical characteristics were calculated for some combined fuel kernels in fuel rods of VVER-type reactors. There are many goals in development of the combined fuel kernels, and these goals define selecting the combinations and compositions of radial layers inside of the kernels. For example, the slower formation of the rim-layer on outer surface of the kernels made of enriched uranium dioxide can be achieved by introduction of inner layer made of natural or depleted uranium dioxide. Other potential goals (lower temperature in the kernel center, better conditions for burn-up of neutron poisons, better retention of toxic materials) could be reached by other combinations of fuel compositions in central and peripheral zones of the fuel kernels. Also, the paper presents the results obtained in experimental manufacturing of the combined fuel pellets. (authors)

A successful approach for the implementation of symptom-based emergency operating procedures for VVER reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lhoest, V.; Prior, R.; Pascal, G.

2000-01-01

The paper provides an overview of the organization, the progress and the results of the various Emergence Operating Procedure (EOP) development programs for VVER type reactors conducted by Westinghouse so far. The detailed working process is presented through the solutions to some major plant issues. The EOPs have been developed for the Temelin, Dukovany, Bohunice, Mochovce and Paks VVER nuclear power plants. The procedures are developed in working teams of experts from the utility and Westinghouse. The completion of the programs constitute an indication of the overall success of this approach. This is further reinforced by the general acceptance of the new procedures by the plant personnel, together with the good results obtained so far from procedure testing. This is also confirmed by a new PSA-level 1 analysis for Dukovany plant, which shows a significant improvement in the overall plant safety. This means a 20% reduction in the Core Damage Frequency due to the introduction of the new EOPs. The fact that some modifications have been implemented to the plants to solve design weaknesses identified in the course of this programs also constitute a positive result

Present status and recent improvements of water chemistry at Russian VVER plants

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mamet, V.; Yurmanov, V.

2001-01-01

Water chemistry is an important contributor to reliable plant operation, safety barrier integrity, plant component lifetime, radiation safety, environmental impact. Primary and secondary water chemistry guidelines of Russian VVER plants have been modified to meet the new safety standards. At present 14 VVER units of different generation are in operation at 5 Russian NPPs. There are eight 4-loop pressurised water reactors VVER-1000 (1000 MWe) and six 6-loop pressurised water reactors VVER-440 (440 MWe). Generally, water chemistry at East European VVER plants (about 40 VVER-440 and VVER-1000 units in Ukraine, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Finland and Armenia) is similar to water chemistry at Russian VVER plants. Due to similar design and structural materials some water chemistry improvements were introduced at East European plants after they has been successfully implemented at Russian plants and vice versa. Some water chemistry improvements will be implemented at modern VVER plants under construction in Ukraine, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Iran, China, India. (R.P.)

The integration of fast reactor to the fuel cycle in Slovakia

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zajac, R.; Darilek, P.; Necas, V.

2009-01-01

A very topical problem of nuclear power is the fuel cycle back-end. One of the options is a LWR spent fuel reprocessing and a fissile nuclides re-use in the fast reactor. A large amount of spent fuel has been stored in the power plant intermediate storage during the operation of VVER-440 reactors in Slovakia. This paper is based on an analysis of Pu and minor actinides content in actual VVER-440 spent fuel stored in Slovakia. The next part presents the possibilities of reprocessing and Pu re-use in fast reactor under Slovak conditions. The fuel cycle consisting of the VVER-440 reactor, PUREX reprocessing plant and a sodium fast reactor was designed. The last section compares two parts of this fuel cycle: one is UOX cycle in VVER-440 reactor and the other is cycle in the fast reactor - SUPER PHENIX loaded with MOX fuel (Pu + Minor Actinides). The starting point is a single recycling of Pu from VVER-440 in the FR. The next step is multirecycling of Pu in the FR to obtain equilibrium cycle. This article is dealing with the solution of power production and fuel cycle indicators. All kinds of calculations were performed by computer code HELIOS 1.10. (authors)

A new optimization method based on cellular automata for VVER-1000 nuclear reactor loading pattern

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Fadaei, Amir Hosein; Setayeshi, Saeed

2009-01-01

This paper presents a new and innovative optimization technique, which uses cellular automata for solving multi-objective optimization problems. Due to its ability in simulating the local information while taking neighboring effects into account, the cellular automata technique is a powerful tool for optimization. The fuel-loading pattern in nuclear reactor cores is a major optimization problem. Due to the immensity of the search space in fuel management optimization problems, finding the optimum solution requires a huge amount of calculations in the classical method. The cellular automata models, based on local information, can reduce the computations significantly. In this study, reducing the power peaking factor, while increasing the initial excess reactivity inside the reactor core of VVER-1000, which are two apparently contradictory objectives, are considered as the objective functions. The result is an optimum configuration, which is in agreement with the pattern proposed by the designer. In order to gain confidence in the reliability of this method, the aforementioned problem was also solved using neural network and simulated annealing, and the results and procedures were compared.

Probabilistic methods of optimization of scheduled tests for heat equipment of safety systems of reactor at full power

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bilej, D.V.; Fridman, N.A.; Kolykhanov, V.N.; Skalozubov, V.I.

2004-01-01

This article generalises the basic results of a long-term teamwork with respect to a scientific and technical substantiation of perfection of the regulations of safe operation power units with VVER. This perfection is concerning a periodicity and volumes of tests of safety systems when a reactor works at full power. The article shows that the application of the probabilistic approaches connected to minimisation of a risk criterion function is an effective methodical base for the optimisation. For certain safety systems of serial power units with VVER 1000 the results of calculated substantiations are presented

Experience on KKNPP VVER 1000 MWe water chemistry

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ganesh, S.; Selvaraj, S.; Balasubramanian, M.R.; Selvavinayagam, P.; Pillai, Suresh Kumar

2015-01-01

Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project consists of pressurized water reactor (VVER) 2 x 1000 MWe constructed in collaboration with Russian Federation at Kudankulam in Tirunelveli District, Tamilnadu. Unit - 1 attained criticality on July 13 th 2013 and the unit was synchronized to grid on 22 nd October 2013. This paper highlights experience gained on water chemistry regime for primary and secondary circuit. (author)

Design study on steam generator integration into the VVER reactor pressure vessel

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hort, J.; Matal, O.

2004-01-01

The primary circuit of VVER (PWR) units is arranged into loops where the heat generated by the reactor is removed by means of main circulating pumps, loop pipelines and steam generators, all located outside the reactor pressure vessel. If the primary circuit and reactor core were integrated into one pressure vessel, as proposed, e.g., within the IRIS project (WEC), a LOCA situation would be limited by the reactor pressure vessel integrity only. The aim of this design study regarding the integration of the steam generator into the reactor pressure vessel was to identify the feasibility limits and some issues. Fuel elements and the reactor pressure vessel as used in the Temelin NPP were considered for the analysis. From among the variants analyzed, the variant with steam generators located above the core and vertically oriented circulating pumps at the RPV lower bottom seems to be very promising for future applications

Test facility of the VVER-440 condensation-type pressure suppression system

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wolff, H.; Arndt, S.

2004-01-01

Since the early nineties, GRS has supported regulatory authorities in Central and Eastern Europe in performing safety assessments of nuclear power plants. Especially studies of the condensation-type pressure suppression system of VVER-440/V-213-type plants have been important in this respect. Major steps in demonstrating complete functioning of the condensation-type pressure suppression system under accident conditions by experiments run in the Russian large scale test facility, BC V-213, have been completed in the past two years within the framework of various international experimental programs. The test results were used to validate specifically for power plants with VVER-400/V-213 reactors the COCOSYS GRS computer code, which is used in the safety assessments. The results of recalculations of the C02 EREC test, which simulates a break of a main steam pipe, demonstrate the present state of validation of COCOSYS for VVER condensation-type pressure suppression systems. (orig.) [de

Insights from the U.S. department of Energy plant safety evaluation program of VVER and RBMK reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Petri, M.C.; Binder, J.L.; Pasedag, W.F.

2001-01-01

Throughout the years 1990 the U.S. Department of Energy has worked build capability in countries of the former Soviet Union to assess the safety of their VVER and RBMK reactors. Through this Plant Safety Evaluation Program, deterministic and probabilistic analyses have been used to provide a documented plant risk profile to support safe plant operation and to set priorities for safety upgrades. Work has been sponsored at thirteen nuclear power plant sites in eight countries. The Plant Safety Evaluation Program has resulted in immediate and long-term safety benefits for the Soviet-designed nuclear plants. (author)

Diversification of the VVER fuel market in Eastern Europe and Ukraine

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kirst, Michael [Westinghouse EMEA, Brussels (Belgium); Benjaminsson, Ulf; Oenneby, Carina [Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB, Vaesteraes (Sweden)

2015-03-15

There are a total of 33 VVER active reactors in the EU and Ukraine, accounting for the largest percentage of the total electricity supply in the countries operating these. The responsible governments and utilities operating these units want too see an increased diversification of the nuclear fuel supply. Westinghouse is the only nuclear fuel producer outside Russia, which has taken the major steps to develop, qualify and manufacture VVER fuel designs - both for VVER-440 and VVER-1000 reactors. The company has delivered reloads of VVER-440 fuel to Loviisa 2 in Finland, VVER-1000 fuel for both the initial core and follow-on regions to Temelin 1-2 in the Czech Republic and more recently reloads of VVER-1000 fuel to South Ukraine 2-3. Technical challenges in form of mechanical interference with the resident fuel have been encountered in Ukraine, but innovative solutions have been developed and successfully implemented and today Ukraine has, for the first time in its history, a viable VVER-1000 fuel design alternative, representing a tremendous lever in energy security for the country.

Fast Neutron Transport in the Biological Shielding Model and Other Regions of the VVER-1000 Mock-Up on the LR-0 Research Reactor

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Košťál Michal

2016-01-01

Full Text Available A set of benchmark experiments was carried out in the full scale VVER-1000 mock-up on the reactor LR-0 in order to validate neutron transport calculation methodologies and to perform the optimization of the shape and locations of neutron flux operation monitors channels inside the shielding of the new VVER-1000 type reactors. Compared with previous experiments on the VVER-1000 mock-up on the reactor LR-0, the fast neutron spectra were measured in the extended neutron energy interval (0.1–10 MeV and new calculations were carried out with the MCNPX code using various nuclear data libraries (ENDF/B VII.0, JEFF 3.1, JENDL 3.3, JENDL 4, ROSFOND 2009, and CENDL 3.1. Measurements and calculations were carried out at different points in the mock-up. The calculation and experimental data are compared.

APROS multifunctional simulator applications for VVER-440

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Porkholm, K.; Kantee, H.; Tiihonen, O.

2000-01-01

Fortum Engineering Ltd and the Technical Research Centre of Finland have developed APROS simulation software since 1986. APROS is a multifunctional simulator, which is used for process and automation design, safety analysis and training simulator applications. APROS has unique features and models developed especially for VVER-440 reactors. At first the paper gives a short overview of APROS multifunctional simulator. The rest of the paper deals with different kind of applications of APROS in VVER-440 reactors' improvement and operation development. (author)

VVER fuel. Results of post irradiation examination

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Smirnov, V.P.; Markov, D.V.; Smirnov, A.V.; Polenok, V.S.; Perepelkin, S.O.; Ivashchenko, A.A.

2005-01-01

The present paper presents the main results of post-irradiation examination of more than 40 different fuel assemblies (FA) operated in the cores of VVER-1000 and VVER-440-type power reactors in a wide range of fuel burnup. The condition of fuel assembly components from the viewpoint of deformation, corrosion resistance and mechanical properties is described here. A serviceability of the FA design as a whole and interaction between individual FA components under vibration condition and mechanical load received primary emphasis. The reasons of FA damage fuel element failure in a wide range of fuel burnup are also analyzed. A possibility and ways of fuel burnup increase have been proved experimentally for the case of high-level serviceability maintenance of fuel elements to provide for advanced fuel cycles. (author)

Calculation of the source term for a S1B-sequence at a VVER-1000 type reactor. Part 1

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sdouz, G.

1990-10-01

The behaviour of the source term in a VVER-1000 type reactor is calculated using the 'Source Term Code Package' (STCP). The input data are based on the russian plant Zaporozhye-5. The selected accident sequence is a small break LOCA in the hot leg followed by loss offsite and onsite electric power (S 1 B-sequence). According to the course of the calculation the results are presented and analyzed for each program. Except for the noble gases all release fractions are lower than 10 -4 . 18 refs., 10 tabs. (Author)

RELAP5/MOD3.2 investigation of reactor vessel YR line capabilities for primary side depressurization during the TLFW in VVER1000/V320

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gencheva, Rositsa V.; Stefanova, Antoaneta E.; Groudev, Pavlin P.

2005-01-01

During the development of Symptom Based Emergency Operating Procedures (SB-EOPs) for VVER-1000/V320 units at Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), a number of analyses have been performed using the RELAP5/MOD3.2 computer code. One of them is 'Investigation of reactor vessel YR line capabilities for primary side depressurization during the Total Loss of Feed Water (TLFW)'. The main purpose of these calculations is to evaluate the capabilities of YR line located at the top of the reactor vessel for primary side depressurization to the set point of High Pressure Injection System (HPIS) actuation and the abilities for successful core cooling after Feed and Bleed procedure initiation. For the purpose of this, operator action with 'Reactor vessel off-gas valve - 0.032 m' opening has been investigated. RELAP5/MOD3.2 computer code has been used to simulate the TLFW transient in VVER-1000 NPP model. This model was developed at Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (INRNE-BAS), Sofia, for analyses of operational occurrences, abnormal events, and design basis scenarios. The model provides a significant analytical capability for the specialists working in the field of NPP safety

Component vibration of VVER-reactors - diagnostics and modelling

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Altstadt, E.; Scheffler, M.; Weiss, F.-P.

1995-01-01

Flow induced vibrations of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) internals (control element and core barrel motions) at VVER-440 reactors have led to the development of dedicated methods for on-line monitoring. These methods need a certain developed stage of the faults to be detected. To achieve a real sensitive early detection of mechanical faults of RPV internals, a theoretical vibration model was developed based on finite elements. The model comprises the whole primary circuit including the steam generators (SG). By means of that model all eigenfrequencies up to 30 Hz and the corresponding mode shapes were calculated for the normal vibration behaviour. Moreover the shift of eigenfrequencies and of amplitudes due to the degradation or to the failure of internal clamping and spring elements could be investigated, showing that a recognition of such degradations even inside the RPV is possible by pure excore vibration measurements. A true diagnostic, that is the identification of the failed component, might become possible because different faults influence different and well separated eigenfrequencies. (author)

Generation of multigroup cross-sections from micro-group ones in code system SUHAM-U used for VVER-1000 reactor core calculations with MOX loading

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Boyarinov, V.F.; Davidenko, V.D.; Polismakov, A.A.; Tsybulsky, V.F. [RRC Kurchatov Institute, Moscow (Russian Federation)

2005-07-01

At the present time, the new code system SUHAM-U for calculation of the neutron-physical processes in nuclear reactor core with triangular and square lattices based both on the modern micro-group (about 7000 groups) cross-sections library of code system UNK and on solving the multigroup (up to 89 groups) neutron transport equation by Surface Harmonics Method is elaborated. In this paper the procedure for generation of multigroup cross-sections from micro-group ones for calculation of VVER-1000 reactor core with MOX loading is described. The validation has consisted in computing VVER-1000 fuel assemblies with uranium and MOX fuel and has shown enough high accuracy under corresponding selection of the number and boundaries of the energy groups. This work has been fulfilled in the frame of ISTC project 'System Analyses of Nuclear Safety for VVER Reactors with MOX Fuels'.

A study of different cases of VVER reactor core flooding in a large break loss of coolant accident

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bezrukov, Y.A.; Schekoldin, V.I.; Zaitsev, S.I.; Churkin, A.N.; Lisenkov, E.A.

2016-01-01

The paper covers a brief review of reflooding studies performed in different countries and the relevant tests performed in OKB GIDROPRESS (Russia) are discussed in more detail. The OKB GIDROPRESS test facility simulates the primary circuit of the VVER-440 reactor, with a full-scale fuel assembly (FA) mockup as the core simulator. The VVER core reflooding was studied in a FA mockup containing 126 fuel rod simulators with axial power peaking. The experiments were performed for two types of flooding. The first type is top flooding of the empty (steamed) FA mockup. The second type is bottom flooding of the FA mockup with level of boiling water. The test parameters are as follows: the range of the supplied power to the bundle is from 40 to 320 kW, the cooling water flow rate is from 0.04 to 1.1 kg/s, the maximum temperature of the fuel rod simulator is 800 C. degrees and the linear heat flux is from 0.1 to 1.0 kW/m. The test results were used for computer code validation, especially for the TRAP package code. The experiments show that as the transverse dimension of the FA mockup increases, the flow choking of the water supplied from the top by the steam flow significantly decreases

Investigation of primary-to-secondary leakage accident on the PSB-VVER integral test facility

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lipatov, I.A.; Dremin, G.I.; Galtchanskaya, S.A.; Chmal, I.I.; Moloshnikov, A.S.; Gorbunov, Y.S.; Antonova, A.I.; Elkin, I.V.

2001-01-01

The full text follows. The paper presents the main results from the test on primary-to-secondary leakage of 100 mm in equivalent diameter. The test was performed on the PSB-VVER integral test facility. PSB-VVER is a 4-loops scaled down model of primary system of NPP with VVER-1000 Russian type reactor. Volume - power scale is about 1/300 while elevation scale is 1/1. All components of the primary system of the reference NPP are modeled on PSB-VVER. Both passive (accumulators) and active (high and low pressure) ECCSs, pressurizer spray and relief circuits, feed water system and atmospheric dumping system (ADS) as well as the primary circuit gas remove emergency system are also simulated. The primary-to-secondary leakage was simulated using an external break line which connects the upper part of the hot header to SG water volume. The break line included a break nozzle (a cylindrical channel d = 5.8 mm, l/d = 10 with sharp inlet edge), quick-acting valve and two-phase mass flow rate measurement system. In addition loss of off-site power at the moment when a scram-signal is generated was assumed in the experiment. Thus the accident is to be considered as a beyond-design-basic one. The loss of off-site power results in the following: -main circulation pump shutdown; -pressurizer heaters switching off; -HPIS water cooling flow rate and number of points of water injection are reduced The study focuses on the adequacy of the associated accident management (AM) procedure developed by EDO ''GIDROPRESS'' as a General Designer of VVER-type reactors. The AM-procedure was adopted to the PSB-VVER test facility conditions using CATHARE (France) and DINAMIKA (Russia) codes analysis. The AM-procedure in PSB-VVER is as follows: after about 30 min of the onset of the accident, when the accident type and the localization of the SG affected become evident for the operator, he closes all the main steam isolation valves, inhibits the ADS actuation in the affected SG and begins to remove

Automatic loading pattern optimization tool for Loviisa VVER-440 reactors

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kuopanportti, Jaakko [Fortum Power and Heat, Fortum (Finland). Nuclear Competence Center

2013-09-15

An automatic loading pattern optimization tool called ALPOT has been developed for Loviisa VVER-440 reactors. The ALPOT code utilizes combination of three different optimization methods. The first method is the imitation of the equilibrium pattern that is the optimized pattern in case the cycle length and the operation conditions are constant and the same shuffling pattern is repeated from cycle to cycle. In practice, the algorithm imitates assemblies' operation year distribution of the equilibrium pattern stochastically. The function of the imitation algorithm is to provide initial patterns quickly for the next optimization phase, which is performed either with the stochastic guided binary search algorithm or the deterministic burnup kernel method depending on the choice of the user. The former is a modified version of the standard binary search. The standard version goes through all possible swaps of the assemblies and chooses the best swap at each iteration round. The guided version chooses one assembly, tries to swap it with every other possible assembly and performs the best swap at each iteration round. The search is guided so that the algorithm chooses the assemblies at or near the most restrictive fuel assembly first. The kernel method creates burnup kernel functions to estimate burnup variations that are required to achieve desired changes in the power distribution of the reactor. The idea of the kernel method is first determine the optimal burnup distribution that minimizes the maximum relative assembly power using the created kernel functions and a common solver routine. Then, the burnups of the available fuel assemblies are matched with the obtained burnup distribution. (orig.)

Automatic loading pattern optimization tool for Loviisa VVER-440 reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kuopanportti, Jaakko

2013-01-01

An automatic loading pattern optimization tool called ALPOT has been developed for Loviisa VVER-440 reactors. The ALPOT code utilizes combination of three different optimization methods. The first method is the imitation of the equilibrium pattern that is the optimized pattern in case the cycle length and the operation conditions are constant and the same shuffling pattern is repeated from cycle to cycle. In practice, the algorithm imitates assemblies' operation year distribution of the equilibrium pattern stochastically. The function of the imitation algorithm is to provide initial patterns quickly for the next optimization phase, which is performed either with the stochastic guided binary search algorithm or the deterministic burnup kernel method depending on the choice of the user. The former is a modified version of the standard binary search. The standard version goes through all possible swaps of the assemblies and chooses the best swap at each iteration round. The guided version chooses one assembly, tries to swap it with every other possible assembly and performs the best swap at each iteration round. The search is guided so that the algorithm chooses the assemblies at or near the most restrictive fuel assembly first. The kernel method creates burnup kernel functions to estimate burnup variations that are required to achieve desired changes in the power distribution of the reactor. The idea of the kernel method is first determine the optimal burnup distribution that minimizes the maximum relative assembly power using the created kernel functions and a common solver routine. Then, the burnups of the available fuel assemblies are matched with the obtained burnup distribution. (orig.)

Validation of Advanced Computer Codes for VVER Technology: LB-LOCA Transient in PSB-VVER Facility

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

A. Del Nevo

2012-01-01

Full Text Available The OECD/NEA PSB-VVER project provided unique and useful experimental data for code validation from PSB-VVER test facility. This facility represents the scaled-down layout of the Russian-designed pressurized water reactor, namely, VVER-1000. Five experiments were executed, dealing with loss of coolant scenarios (small, intermediate, and large break loss of coolant accidents, a primary-to-secondary leak, and a parametric study (natural circulation test aimed at characterizing the VVER system at reduced mass inventory conditions. The comparative analysis, presented in the paper, regards the large break loss of coolant accident experiment. Four participants from three different institutions were involved in the benchmark and applied their own models and set up for four different thermal-hydraulic system codes. The benchmark demonstrated the performances of such codes in predicting phenomena relevant for safety on the basis of fixed criteria.

SCORPIO - VVER core surveillance system

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hornaes, A.; Bodal, T.; Sunde, S.

1998-01-01

The Institutt for energiteknikk has developed the core surveillance system SCORPIO, which has two parallel modes of operation: the Core Follow Mode and the Predictive Mode. The main motivation behind the development of SCORPIO is to make a practical tool for reactor operators, which can increase the quality and quantity of information presented on core status and dynamic behavior. This can first of all improve plant safety, as undesired core conditions are detected and prevented. Secondly, more flexible and efficient plant operation is made possible. The system has been implemented on western PWRs, but the basic concept is applicable to a wide range of reactors including VVERs. The main differences between VVERs and typical western PWRs with respect to core surveillance requirements are outlined. The development of a VVER version of SCORPIO has been done in co-operation with the Nuclear Research Institute Rez, and industry partners in the Czech Republic. The first system is installed at Dukovany NPP, where the Site Acceptance Test was completed 6. March 1998.(author)

Results of 15 years experiments in the PMK-2 integral-type facility for VVERs

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Szabados, L.; Ezsoel, G.; Perneczky, L. [KFKI Atomic Energy Research Institute, Budapest (Hungary)

2001-07-01

Due to the specific features of the VVER-440/213-type reactors the transient behaviour of such a reactor system is different from the usual PWR system behaviour. To provide an experimental database for the transient behaviour of VVER systems the PMK integral-type facility, the scaled down model of the Paks NPP was designed and constructed in the early 1980's. Since the start-up of the facility 48 experiments have been performed. It was confirmed through the experiments that the facility is a suitable tool for the computer code validation experiments and to the identification of basic thermal-hydraulic phenomena occurring during plant accidents. High international interest was shown by the four Standard Problem Exercises of the IAEA and by the projects financed by the EU-PHARE. A wide range of small- and medium-size LOCA sequences have been studied to know the performance and effectiveness of ECC systems and to evaluate the thermal-hydraulic safety of the core. Extensive studies have been performed to investigate the one- and two-phase natural circulation, the effect of disturbances coming from the secondary circuit and to validate the effectiveness of accident management measures like bleed and feed. The VVER-specific case, the opening of the SG collector cover was also extensively investigated. Examples given in the report show a few results of experiments and the results of calculation analyses performed for validation purposes of codes like RELAP5, ATHLET and CATHARE. There are some other white spots in Cross Reference Matrices for VVER reactors and, therefore, further experiments are planned to perform tests primarily in further support of accident management measures at low power states of plants to facilitate the improved safety management of VVER-440-type reactors. (authors)

Results of 15 years experiments in the PMK-2 integral-type facility for VVERs

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Szabados, L.; Ezsoel, G.; Perneczky, L.

2001-01-01

Due to the specific features of the VVER-440/213-type reactors the transient behaviour of such a reactor system is different from the usual PWR system behaviour. To provide an experimental database for the transient behaviour of VVER systems the PMK integral-type facility, the scaled down model of the Paks NPP was designed and constructed in the early 1980's. Since the start-up of the facility 48 experiments have been performed. It was confirmed through the experiments that the facility is a suitable tool for the computer code validation experiments and to the identification of basic thermal-hydraulic phenomena occurring during plant accidents. High international interest was shown by the four Standard Problem Exercises of the IAEA and by the projects financed by the EU-PHARE. A wide range of small- and medium-size LOCA sequences have been studied to know the performance and effectiveness of ECC systems and to evaluate the thermal-hydraulic safety of the core. Extensive studies have been performed to investigate the one- and two-phase natural circulation, the effect of disturbances coming from the secondary circuit and to validate the effectiveness of accident management measures like bleed and feed. The VVER-specific case, the opening of the SG collector cover was also extensively investigated. Examples given in the report show a few results of experiments and the results of calculation analyses performed for validation purposes of codes like RELAP5, ATHLET and CATHARE. There are some other white spots in Cross Reference Matrices for VVER reactors and, therefore, further experiments are planned to perform tests primarily in further support of accident management measures at low power states of plants to facilitate the improved safety management of VVER-440-type reactors. (authors)

VVER-1000: considering its strengths and weaknesses

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Laaksonen, J.

1994-01-01

The safety of currently operating VVER-1000 reactors is examined. The factors considered are deviations in operation, inherent safety, safety system design, protection against internal and external hazards, equipment quality, the approach to plant operations and the safety culture. On the basis of this evaluation it is concluded that the overall safety of a VVER-1000 cannot be at the level of a modern Western PWR though there is no sound basis to make a quantitative comparison. Many of the concerns raised are being adequately addressed in the Czech Temelin which is currently under construction and in new designs which are still at the drawing board stage. Extensive back fitting programmes are planned or underway in operating plants. The creation of independent responsible operating organizations, powerful regulation and an improved economic situation are advanced as necessary criteria for real improvements in safety. (UK)

Simulation of VVER MCCI reactor test case with ASTEC V2/MEDICIS computer code

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Stefanova, A.; Grudev, P.; Gencheva, R.

2011-01-01

This paper presents an application of the ASTEC v2, module MEDICIS for simulation of VVER Molten core concrete interaction test (MCCI) case without water injection. The main purpose of performed calculation is verification and improvement of module MEDICIS/ASTECv2 for better simulation of core concrete interaction processes. The VVER-1000 reference nuclear power plant was chosen as SARNET2 benchmark MCCI test-case. The initial conditions for MCCI test are taken after SBO scenario calculated with ASTEC version 1.3R2 by INRNE. (authors)

Almost twenty years' search of transuranium isotopes in effluents discharged to air from nuclear power plants with VVER reactors.

Science.gov (United States)

Hölgye, Z; Filgas, R

2006-04-01

Airborne effluents of 5 stacks (stacks 1-5) of three nuclear power plants, with 9 pressurized water reactors VVER of 4,520 MWe total power, were searched for transuranium isotopes in different time periods. The search started in 1985. The subject of this work is a presentation of discharge data for the period of 1998-2003 and a final evaluation. It was found that 238Pu, 239,240Pu, 241Am, 242Cm, and 244Cm can be present in airborne effluents. Transuranium isotope contents in most of the quarterly effluent samples from stacks 2, 4 and 5 were not measurable. Transuranium isotopes were present in the effluents from stack l during all 9 years of the study and from stack 3 since the 3rd quarter of 1996 as a result of a defect in the fuel cladding. A relatively high increase of transuranium isotopes in effluents from stack 3 occurred in the 3rd quarter of 1999, and a smaller increase occurred in the 3rd quarter of 2003. In each instance 242Cm prevailed in the transuranium isotope mixtures. 238Pu/239,240Pu, 241Am/239,240Pu, 242Cm/239,240Pu, and 244Cm/239,240Pu ratios in fuel for different burn-up were calculated, and comparison of these ratios in fuel and effluents was performed.

Axial stability of VVER-1000 reactor with control with minimum standard deviation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Afanas'ev, A.M.; Torlin, B.Z.

1980-01-01

Results are given of investigations on the stability of a reactor which has, in addition to an automatic controller, a height distribution regulator (HDR) based on an auxiliary control rod (CR) or a special shortened absorption rod (SAR). The HDR was controlled by using either a special ionization chamber (IC), generating an imbalance signal which sets the CR in motion, or two ionization chambers whose difference signal causes a displacement of the SAR. Since data from numerous pickups can be used to control the height field of the VVER-1000, it is of interest to analyze how this would affect the stability of the reactor. The analysis was carried out with the improved IRINA programs. 11 refs

Decay heat power of spent nuclear fuel of power reactors with high burnup at long-term storage

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Ternovykh Mikhail

2017-01-01

Full Text Available Decay heat power of actinides and fission products from spent nuclear fuel of power VVER-1000 type reactors at long-term storage is calculated. Two modes of storage are considered: mode in which single portion of actinides or fission products is loaded in storage facility, and mode in which actinides or fission products from spent fuel of one VVER reactor are added every year in storage facility during 30 years and then accumulated nuclides are stored without addition new nuclides. Two values of fuel burnup 40 and 70 MW·d/kg are considered for the mode of storage of single fuel unloading. For the mode of accumulation of spent fuel with subsequent storage, one value of burnup of 70 MW·d/kg is considered. Very long time of storage 105 years accepted in calculations allows to simulate final geological disposal of radioactive wastes. Heat power of fission products decreases quickly after 50-100 years of storage. The power of actinides decreases very slow. In passing from 40 to 70 MW·d/kg, power of actinides increases due to accumulation of higher fraction of 244Cm. These data are important in the back end of fuel cycle when improved cooling system of the storage facility will be required along with stronger radiation protection during storage, transportation and processing.

Decay heat power of spent nuclear fuel of power reactors with high burnup at long-term storage

Science.gov (United States)

Ternovykh, Mikhail; Tikhomirov, Georgy; Saldikov, Ivan; Gerasimov, Alexander

2017-09-01

Decay heat power of actinides and fission products from spent nuclear fuel of power VVER-1000 type reactors at long-term storage is calculated. Two modes of storage are considered: mode in which single portion of actinides or fission products is loaded in storage facility, and mode in which actinides or fission products from spent fuel of one VVER reactor are added every year in storage facility during 30 years and then accumulated nuclides are stored without addition new nuclides. Two values of fuel burnup 40 and 70 MW·d/kg are considered for the mode of storage of single fuel unloading. For the mode of accumulation of spent fuel with subsequent storage, one value of burnup of 70 MW·d/kg is considered. Very long time of storage 105 years accepted in calculations allows to simulate final geological disposal of radioactive wastes. Heat power of fission products decreases quickly after 50-100 years of storage. The power of actinides decreases very slow. In passing from 40 to 70 MW·d/kg, power of actinides increases due to accumulation of higher fraction of 244Cm. These data are important in the back end of fuel cycle when improved cooling system of the storage facility will be required along with stronger radiation protection during storage, transportation and processing.

The influence of changes in the VVER-1000 fuel assembly shape during operation on the power density distribution

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Shishkov, L. K., E-mail: Shishkov-LK@nrcki.ru; Gorodkov, S. S.; Mikailov, E. F.; Sukhino-Homenko, E. A.; Sumarokova, A. S., E-mail: Sumarokova-AS@nrcki.ru [National Research Center Kurchatov Institute (Russian Federation)

2016-12-15

A new approach to calculation of the coefficients of sensitivity of the fuel pin power to deviations in gap sizes between fuel assemblies of the VVER-1000 reactor during its operation is proposed. It is shown that the calculations by the MCU code should be performed for a full-size model of the core to take the interference of the gap influence into account. In order to reduce the conservatism of calculations, the coolant density and coolant temperature feedbacks should be taken into account, as well as the fuel burnup.

Calculation of spatial weighting functions for ex-core detectors of VVER-440 reactors by Monte Carlo method

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Berki, T.

2003-01-01

The signal of ex-core detectors depends not only on the total power of a reactor but also on the power distribution. The spatial weighting function establishes correspondence between the power distribution and the detector signal. The weighting function is independent of the power distribution. The weighting function is used for detector-response analyses, for example in the case of rod-drop experiments. (1) The paper describes the calculation and analysis of the weighting function of a VVER-440. The three-dimensional Monte Carlo code MCNP is used for the evaluation. Results from forward and adjoint calculations are compared. The effect of the change in the concentration of boric acid is also investigated. The evaluation of the spatial weighting function is a fixed-source neutron transport problem, which can be solved much faster by adjoint calculation, however forward calculations provide more detailed results. It is showed that the effect of boric acid upon the weighting function is negligible. (author)

Microstructure and embrittlement of VVER 440 reactor pressure vessel steels; Microstructure et fragilisation des aciers de cuve des reacteurs nucleaires VVER 440

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hennion, A

1999-03-15

27 VVER 440 pressurised water reactors operate in former Soviet Union and in Eastern Europe. The pressure vessel, is made of Cr-Mo-V steel. It contains a circumferential arc weld in front of the nuclear core. This weld undergoes a high neutron flux and contains large amounts of copper and phosphorus, elements well known for their embrittlement potency under irradiation. The embrittlement kinetic of the steel is accelerated, reducing the lifetime of the reactor. In order to get informations on the microstructure and mechanical properties of these steels, base metals, HAZ, and weld metals have been characterized. The high amount of phosphorus in weld metals promotes the reverse temper embrittlement that occurs during post-weld heat treatment. The radiation damage structure has been identified by small angle neutron scattering, atomic probe, and transmission electron microscopy. Nanometer-sized clusters of solute atoms, rich in copper with almost the same characteristics as in western pressure vessels steels, and an evolution of the size distribution of vanadium carbides, which are present on dislocation structure, are observed. These defects disappear during post-irradiation tempering. As in western steels, the embrittlement is due to both hardening and reduction of interphase cohesion. The radiation damage specificity of VVER steels arises from their high amount of phosphorus and from their significant density of fine vanadium carbides. (author)

Plasma, a plant safety monitoring and assessment system for VVER-440 reactors

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hornaes, A.; Hulsund, J. E. [Institutt for energiteknikk (IFE), OECD Halden Reactor Project, Halden (Norway); Lipcsei, S.; Major, Cs.; Racz, A.; Vegh, J. [KFKI, Atomic Energy Research Institute, Budapest (Hungary); Eiler, J. [Paks, Nuclear Power Plant Ltd, Paks (Hungary)

1999-05-15

The objective with the Plant Safety Monitoring and Assessment System (PLASMA) is to develop an operator support system to support the execution of new symptom-based Emergency Operating Procedures for application in VVER reactors, with the Paks NPP in Hungary as the target plant. Many of the VVER reactors are rewriting their EOPs to comply more with Western standards of symptom-based EOPs. In this connection it is desirable to improve the data validation, information integration and presentation for operators when executing the EOPs. The entry-point to a symptom-oriented procedure is defined by the occurrence of a well-defined reactor operation status, with all its symptoms. However, the application of the EOF benefits from an operator support system, which performs plant status and symptom identification reliably and accurately. The development of the PLASMA system is a joint venture between Institutt for energiteknikk (IFE) and KFKI with the NPP Paks as the target plant. The project has been initiated and partly funded by the Science and Technology Agency (STA), Japan through the OECD NEA assistance program. In Hungary, considerable effort has concentrated on the safety reassessment of the Paks NPP and new EOPs are being written, but no comprehensive Operator Support System (OSS) for plant safety assessment is installed. Some safety parameter display functions are incorporated into diverse operator support systems, but an online 'plant safety monitoring and assessment system' is still missing. The present project comprises designing, constructing, testing and installing such an OSS, which to a great extent could support plant operators in their safety assessment work (author) (ml)

Reflooding and boil-off experiments in a VVER-440 like rod bundle and analyses with the CATHARE code

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Korteniemi, V.; Haapalehto, T.; Puustinen, M.

1995-01-01

Several experiments were performed with the VEERA facility to simulate reflooding and boil-off phenomena in a VVER-440 like rod bundle. The objective of these experiments was to get experience of a full-scale bundle behavior and to create a database for verification of VVER type core models used with modern thermal-hydraulic codes. The VEERA facility used in the experiments is a scaled-down model of the Russian VVER-440 type pressurized water reactors used in Loviisa, Finland. The test section of the facility consists of one full-scale copy of a VVER-440 reactor rod bundle with 126 full-length electrically heated rod simulators. Bottom and top-down reflooding, different modes of emergency core cooling (ECC) injection and the effect of heating power on the heat-up of the rods was studied. In this paper the results of calculations simulating two reflood and one boil-off experiment with the French CATHARE2 thermal-hydraulic code are also presented. Especially the performance of the recently implemented top-down reflood model of the code was studied

Reflooding and boil-off experiments in a VVER-440 like rod bundle and analyses with the CATHARE code

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Korteniemi, V.; Haapalehto, T. [Lappeenranta Univ. of Technology (Finland); Puustinen, M. [VTT Energy, Lappeenranta (Finland)

1995-09-01

Several experiments were performed with the VEERA facility to simulate reflooding and boil-off phenomena in a VVER-440 like rod bundle. The objective of these experiments was to get experience of a full-scale bundle behavior and to create a database for verification of VVER type core models used with modern thermal-hydraulic codes. The VEERA facility used in the experiments is a scaled-down model of the Russian VVER-440 type pressurized water reactors used in Loviisa, Finland. The test section of the facility consists of one full-scale copy of a VVER-440 reactor rod bundle with 126 full-length electrically heated rod simulators. Bottom and top-down reflooding, different modes of emergency core cooling (ECC) injection and the effect of heating power on the heat-up of the rods was studied. In this paper the results of calculations simulating two reflood and one boil-off experiment with the French CATHARE2 thermal-hydraulic code are also presented. Especially the performance of the recently implemented top-down reflood model of the code was studied.

Operational benchmark for VVER-1000, unit 6, Kozloduy NPP

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Apostolov, T.; Petrov, B.

1999-01-01

Benchmark calculations have been carried out using the 3D nodal code TRAPEZ. Global neutron-physics characteristics of the VVER-1000 core, Kozloduy NPP Unit 6, have been determined taking into account the real loading patterns and operational history of the first three cycles. The code TRLOAD has been used to perform the fuel reloading between any two cycles. The reactor and components descriptions as well as material compositions are given. The results presented include the critical boric acid concentration, the radial power distribution, the axial power distribution for the maximum overload assembly, and the burnup distribution at three different moments during each cycle. Calculated values have been compared with measured data. It is shown that the results obtained by the TRAPEZ code are in good agreement with the experimental data. The information presented could serve as a test case for validation of code packages designed for analyzing the steady-state operation of VVERs. (author)

Development of TVSA VVER-1000 fuel

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Samoilov, O.; Kaydalov, V.; Romanov, A.; Falkov, A.; Morozkin, O.; Sholin, E.

2013-01-01

The TVSA fuel assemblies with a rigid angle-piece skeleton operate at 21 VVER-1000 units of Kalinin NPP, and Ukrainian, and Czech and Bulgarian NPPs. The total of more than 6,000 TVSA fuel assemblies have been fabricated. High lifetime performance has been achieved, namely, the maximum FA burnup is 65 MW∙day/kgU; maximum fuel rod burnup is 72 MW∙day/kgU; the lifetime is 50,000 EFPH. The TVSA fuel assembly is being improved to enhance its technical and economic performance and competitiveness of the Russian fuel for the VVER-1000 reactor: 1) Reliability and safety are being enhanced; repairability is being ensured. 2) High burnup levels in fuel are being ensured. 3) The uranium content in FAs is being increased. 4) The operational life is being extended. 5) Thermal-technical characteristics of FAs are being improved. The basic TVSA fuel assembly design evolved into the TVSA-PLUS with the fuel column elongated by 150 mm. The TVSA-PLUS fuel assembly has been in operation since 2010 at Kalinin NPP power units; an eighteen-month cycle is implemented at the uprated power of 104%. The TVSA-12PLUS fuel assembly has been developed with an elongated fuel column, optimized spacer grid positions (the spacer grid pitch is 340 mm) and with ensuring higher rigidity for the skeleton. It is provided for that fuel rods with the elevated uranium content and mixing intensifier grids will be used. The TVSA-T is developed for VVER-1000 reactor cores at the Temelin NPP. The TVSA-T is characterized by a load-carrying skeleton formed with angle-pieces and combined spacer grids that incorporate mixer grids. The TVSA-T design won the international tender to supply fuel to the Temelin NPP in the Czech Republic, and currently Temelin NPP Unit 1 and 2 are operating with the cores fully loaded with TVSA-Ts

Investigation of primary-to-secondary leakage accident on the PSB-VVER integral test facility

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Lipatov, I.A.; Dremin, G.I.; Galtchanskaya, S.A.; Chmal, I.I.; Moloshnikov, A.S.; Gorbunov, Y.S.; Antonova, A.I. [Electrogorsk Research and Engineering Center, EREC, Moscow (Russian Federation); Elkin, I.V. [RRC ' ' Kurchatov Institute, Moscow (Russian Federation)

2001-07-01

The full text follows. The paper presents the main results from the test on primary-to-secondary leakage of 100 mm in equivalent diameter. The test was performed on the PSB-VVER integral test facility. PSB-VVER is a 4-loops scaled down model of primary system of NPP with VVER-1000 Russian type reactor. Volume - power scale is about 1/300 while elevation scale is 1/1. All components of the primary system of the reference NPP are modeled on PSB-VVER. Both passive (accumulators) and active (high and low pressure) ECCSs, pressurizer spray and relief circuits, feed water system and atmospheric dumping system (ADS) as well as the primary circuit gas remove emergency system are also simulated. The primary-to-secondary leakage was simulated using an external break line which connects the upper part of the hot header to SG water volume. The break line included a break nozzle (a cylindrical channel d = 5.8 mm, l/d = 10 with sharp inlet edge), quick-acting valve and two-phase mass flow rate measurement system. In addition loss of off-site power at the moment when a scram-signal is generated was assumed in the experiment. Thus the accident is to be considered as a beyond-design-basic one. The loss of off-site power results in the following: -main circulation pump shutdown; -pressurizer heaters switching off; -HPIS water cooling flow rate and number of points of water injection are reduced The study focuses on the adequacy of the associated accident management (AM) procedure developed by EDO ''GIDROPRESS'' as a General Designer of VVER-type reactors. The AM-procedure was adopted to the PSB-VVER test facility conditions using CATHARE (France) and DINAMIKA (Russia) codes analysis. The AM-procedure in PSB-VVER is as follows: after about 30 min of the onset of the accident, when the accident type and the localization of the SG affected become evident for the operator, he closes all the main steam isolation valves, inhibits the ADS actuation in the affected SG

Calculation with MCNP of capture photon flux in VVER-1000 experimental reactor.

Science.gov (United States)

Töre, Candan; Ortego, Pedro

2005-01-01

The aim of this study is to obtain by Monte Carlo method the high energy photon flux due to neutron capture in the internals and vessel layers of the experimental reactor LR-0 located in REZ, Czech Republic, and loaded with VVER-1000 fuel. The calclated neutron, photon and photon to neutron flux ratio are compared with experimental measurements performed with a multi-parameter stilbene detector. The results show clear underestimation of photon flux in downcomer and some overestimation at vessel surface and 1/4 thickness but a good fitting for deeper points in vessel.

ANDREA 2.2 and 2.3. Advances in modelling of VVER cores

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Havluj, Frantisek; Hejzlar, Jonatan; Vocka, Radim; Vysoudil, Jiri [UJV Rez, Husinec-Rez (Czech Republic)

2017-09-15

In 2016 a new version of code ANDREA for core design and reload safety analysis of VVER reactors has been released. The new code version includes several major improvements. The first of them is a seamless incorporation of short time kinetics calculations (without temperature feedback) into the code. This new feature accompanied by the possibility of excore detector signal predictions enables precise interpretation of dynamic measurements of control assembly weight during the reactor startup. Second important enhancement resides in new flexible format of cross section libraries and in new fuel temperature model based on results of TRANSURANUS fuel performance code. The new code version has been thoroughly tested and validated for both VVER440 and VVER-1000 reactors. Furthermore for the new version 2.3 which is to be released shortly we have implemented the possibility of fluent control assemblies' motion and of non-equidistant axial nodalization schemes in VVER-440 calculations.

Contributions of Modranska potrubni a.s. to the safety improvement of piping systems and valves of NPS type VVER 440 and VVER 1000

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Slach, J.

2004-01-01

The following activities are described: (i) Installation of pipe whip restraints on piping for high pressure and temperature steam and feed piping; (ii) Installation of air receivers for quick-acting valves with air actuator on VVER 440 units at the Jaslovske Bohunice V2 NPP; (iii) Replacement of the technical water distribution system material in the reactor hall of the Temelin VVER 1000 units; Installation of measuring nozzles on main steam piping DN 600 at the Temelin VVER 1000 units. (P.A.)

Status and prospects of the core surveillance system SCORPIO-VVER in Czech Republic and Slovakia

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Molnar, J.; Vocka, R.

2011-01-01

The SCORPIO-VVER core monitoring system has proved since the first installation at Dukovany NPP in 1999 to be a valuable tool for the reactor operators and reactor physicists. It is now installed on four units of Dukovany NPP (Czech Republic) and two units of Bohunice NPP (Slovak Republic) replacing the original Russian VK3 system. By both Czech and Slovak nuclear regulatory bodies it was licensed as a Technical Specification Surveillance tool. Since it's first installation, the development of SCORPIO-VVER system continues along with the changes in WWER reactors operation. The system is being adapted according the utility needs and several notable improvements in physical modules of the system were introduced. The latest most significant changes were done in connection with implementation of a new digital I and C system, loading of the optimized gadolinium bearing Gd2 fuel assemblies, improvements in the area of core design (neutron physics, core thermal hydraulics and fuel thermal mechanics), adaptation of the system to up-rated unit conditions, in design and methodology of the limit and technical specifications checking (implementation of the on-line shutdown margin calculation to the system) and improvements in the predictive part of the system (Strategy Generator). After the currently finished upgrades (Upgrade 2 at EBO Slovakia in 2009, Upgrade 5 at EDU Czech Republic in 2010) the SCORPIO-VVER is still in focus of Central European nuclear power plants with the road map of modification and implementation up to 2015. In April 2011 the Upgrade 3 at EBO Slovakia has been contracted to support the changed reactor technical specification and for support of the new type of fuel planned to load in 2012. During the summer of 2011 the discussions started with EDU NPP in Czech Republic regarding to the future development of the SCORPIO-VVER system up to 2015. Parallel with the support of current installations at NPPs the project of new installations is ongoing. During

Development of technologies for nuclear reactors of small and medium sized; Desarrollo de Tecnologias para Reactores Nucleares de pequeno y medio tamano

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

NONE

2011-08-15

This meeting include: countries presentations, themes and objectives of the training course, reactor types, design, EPR, APR1400, A P 1000, A PWR, ATMEA 1, VVER-1000, A PWR, ATMEA 1, VVER 1200, Boiling Water Reactor, A BWR, A BWR -II, ESBUR, Ke ren, AREVA, Heavy Water Reactor, Candu 6, Acr-1000, HWR, Bw, Iris, CAREM NuCcale, Smart, KLT-HOS, Westinghouse small modular Reactor, Gas Cooled Reactors, PBMR, React ores enfriados con metales liquidos, Hs, Prism,Terra Power, Hyper ion, appliance's no electric as de energia, Generation IV Reactors,VHTR, Gas Fast Reactor, Sodium Fast Reactor, Molten salt Reactor, Lfr, Water Cooled Reactor, Technology Assessment Process, Fukushima accident.

Reloading pattern optimization of VVER-1000 reactors in transient cycles using genetic algorithm

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Rahmani, Yashar

2017-01-01

Highlights: • The genetic algorithm (GA) and the innovative weighting factors method were used. • The coupling of WIMSD5-B and CITATION-LDI2 neutronic codes with the thermohydraulic WERL code was employed. • Optimization of reloading patterns was carried out in two states. • First an arrangement with satisfactory excess reactivity and the flattest power distribution was searched. • Second, it is tried to obtain an arrangement with satisfactory safety threshold and the maximum K_e_f_f. - Abstract: The present paper proposes application of the genetic algorithm (GA) and the innovative weighting factor method to optimize the reloading pattern of Bushehr VVER-1000 reactor in the second cycle. To estimate the composition of fuel assemblies remaining from the first cycle and precisely calculate the objective parameters of each reloading pattern in the second cycle, coupling of WIMSD5-B and CITATION-LDI2 codes in the neutronic section and the WERL code in the thermo-hydraulic section was employed. Optimization of the reloading patterns was carried out in two states. To meet the mentioned objective, with application of the weighting factor method in the first state, the type and quantity of the loadable fresh assemblies were determined to enable the reactor core to maintain the core criticality over the entire cycle length. Afterwards, the genetic algorithm was used to optimize the reloading pattern of the reactor to obtain an arrangement with flat radial power distribution. In the second state, the optimization algorithm was free to select the type and number of fresh fuel assemblies to be able to search for an arrangement with the maximum effective multiplication factor and the safe power peaking factor. In addition, in order to ensure the safety and desirability of the proposed patterns in both states, a time-dependent examination of the thermo-neutronic behavior of the reactor core was carried out during the second cycle. With consideration of the new

Containment leak-tightness enhancement at VVER 440 NPPs

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Prandorfy, M.

2001-01-01

The hermetic compartments of VVER 440 NPPs fulfil the function of the containment used at NPPs all over the word. The purpose of the containment is to protect the NPP personal against radioactive impact as well as to prevent radioactive leakage to the environment during a lost of coolant accident. Leak-tightness enhancement in NPPs with VVER 440/213 and VVER 440/230 reactors is an important safety issue. New procedures, measures and methods were adopted at NPPs in Mochovce, J. Bohunice, Dukovany and Paks for leak identification and sealing works performed by VUEZ Levice. (authors)

VVER-1000 small-medium break LOCAs predictions by ASTEC

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Georgieva, J.; Stefanova, A.; Atanasova, B.; Groudev, P.; Tusheva, P.; Mladenov, I.; Dimov, D.; Passalacqua, R.

2005-01-01

This paper deals with an assessment of ASTEC1.1v0 code in the simulation of small and medium break LOCAs (ranging from 30mm up to 70mm equivalent diameter). The reference power plant for this analysis is a VVER-1000/V320 (e.g. Units 5 and 6 at Kozloduy NPP). A preliminary comparison with MELCOR and RELAP-SCDAP severe accident codes will be discussed. This investigation has been performed in the framework of the SARNET project (under the Euratom 6 th framework program) by the FoBAUs group (Forum of Bulgarian ASTEC users). The FoBAUs group aims at the validation of the ASTEC code in the field of severe accidents. Future activities will target the ASTEC capability (as a PSA-level 2 tool) to simulate a large range of reactor accident scenarios with intervention of safety systems (either passive systems or operated by operators). The final target is to assess Severe Accident Management (SAM) procedures for VVER-1000 reactors. The ASTEC1.1v0 code version here used is the one released in June 2004 by the French IRSN (Institut de Radioprotection et de Surete Nucleaire) and the German GRS (Gesellschaft ReactorSicherheit mbH). (author)

Severe accident management development program for VVER-1000 and VVER-440/213 based on the westinghouse owners group approach

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Felix, E.; Dessars, N.

2003-01-01

The development of the Westinghouse Owners Group Severe Accident Management Guidelines (WOG SAMG) between 1991 and 1994 was initiated in response to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requirement for addressing the regulatory severe accident concerns. Hence, the WOG SAMG is designed to interface with other existing procedures at the plant and is used in accident sequences that have progressed to the point where these other procedures are not applicable any longer, i.e. following core damage. The primary purpose of the WOG SAMG is to reach a controlled stable state, which can be declared when fission product releases are controlled, challenges to the confinement fission product boundary have been mitigated, and adequate heat removal is provided to the core and the containment. Although the WOG SAMG is a generic severe accident management guidance developed for use by the entirety of the operating Westinghouse PWR plants, provisions have been made in their development to address specific features of individual plants such as confinement type and the feasibility of reactor cavity flooding. Similarly, the generic SAMG does not address unique plant features and equipment, but rather allows for consideration of plant specific features and strategies. This adaptable approach has led to several SAMG development programs for VVER-1000 and VVER-440 type of power plants, under Westinghouse' s lead. The first of these programs carried out to completion was for Temelin NPP - VVER-1000 - in the first quarter of 2003. Other ongoing programs aim at providing a similar work for VVER-440 design, namely Dukovany, Mochovce and Bohunice NPPs. The challenge of adapting the existing generic WOG material to plants other than PWRs mainly arises for VVER-440 because of important differences in confinement design, making it more vulnerable to ex-vessel phenomena such as hydrogen burn. Also, for both eastern designs, cavity flooding strategy requires special consideration and

Safety regulations regarding to accident monitoring and accident sampling at Russian NPPs with VVER type reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sharafutdinov, Rachet; Lankin, Michail; Kharitonova, Nataliya

2014-01-01

The paper describes a tendency by development of regulatory document requirements related to accident monitoring and accident sampling at Russia's NPPs. Lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi accident pointed at the importance and necessary to carry out an additional safety check at Russia's nuclear power plants in the preparedness for management of severe accidents at NPPs. Planned measures for improvement of severe accidents management include development and implementation of the accident instrumentation systems, providing, monitoring, management and storage of information in a severe accident conditions. The draft of Safety Guidelines <power plants with VVER reactors' prepared by Scientific and Engineering Centre for Nuclear and Radiation Safety (SEC NRS) established the main criteria for accident monitoring instrumentation that can monitor relevant plant parameters in the reactor and inside containment during and after a severe accident in nuclear power plants. Development of these safety guidelines is in line with the recommendations of IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety in response to the Fukushima Daiichi event and recommendations of the IAEA Nuclear Energy series Report <Power Plants' (Draft V 2.7). The paper presents the principles, which are used as the basis for selection of plant parameters for accident monitoring and for establishing of accident monitoring instrumentation. The recommendations to the accident sampling system capable to obtain the representative reactor coolant and containment air and fluid samples that support accurate analytical results for the parameters of interest are considered. The radiological and chemistry parameters to be monitored for primary coolant and sump and for containment air are specified. (author)

Estimation of material degradation of VVER-1000 baffle

Science.gov (United States)

Harutyunyan, Davit; Koš'ál, Michal; Vandlík, Stanislav; Hojná, Anna; Schulc, Martin; Flibor, Stanislav

2017-09-01

The planned lifetime of the first commercial VVER-1000 units were designed for 30 to 35 years. Most of the early VVER plants are now reaching and/or passing the 35-year mark. Service life extension for another 10 to 30 years is now under investigation. Life extension requires the evaluation of pressure vessel internals degradation under long-term irradiation. One of the possible limiting factors for the service life of VVERs is a void swelling of the Russian type titanium stabilized stainless 08Ch18N10T steel used to construct the baffle surrounding the core. This article aims to show first steps towards deeper analysis of the baffle degradation process and to demonstrate the possibilities of precise calculation and measurements on the VVER-1000 mock-up in LR-0 reactor.

Regulatory use the classification security systems of I and C in VVER type reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ilizastegui Perez, F.

1998-01-01

Presently work the author proposes a classification to the system I and C to the VVER 440 type reactor in categories the regulatory control with a view to establishing the degree to the attention that the regulator should pay to these systems, leaving the importance that have the same ones for the security the installation, during the execution the works that are carried out with this equipment in the stages construction, setting in service and exploitation

Evaluation of an experiment modelling heat transfer from the melt pool for use in VVER 440/213 reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Skop, J.

2003-12-01

The strategy of confining core melt within the reactor vessel is among promising strategies to mitigate severe accidents of VVER 440/213 reactors. This strategy consists in residual heat removal from the melt by external vessel cooling from the outside, using water from the flooded reactor downcomer. This approach can only be successful if the critical heat flux on the external vessel surface is not exceeded. This can be assessed based on the parameters of heat transfer from the core melt pool in the conditions of natural circulation within the pool. Those parameters are the subject of the report. A basic description of the terms and physical basis of the strategy of confining core melt inside the vessel is given in Chapter 2, which also briefly explains similarity theory, based on which the results obtained on experimental facilities, using simulation materials, can be related to the actual situation inside a real reactor. Chapter 3 presents an overview of experimental work addressing the characteristics of heat transfer from the core melt pool in natural circulation conditions and a description of the experimental facilities. An overview of the results emerging from the experiments and their evaluation with respect to their applicability to reactors in Czech nuclear power plants are given in Chapter 4

Analysis of core damage frequency: Nuclear power plant Dukovany, VVER/440 V-213 Unit 1, internal events. Volume 1: Main report

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Pugila, W.J.

1994-01-01

This report presents the final results from the Level 1 probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) for the Dukovany VVER/440 V-213 nuclear power plant, Unit 1. Section 1.1 describes the objectives of this study. Section 1.2 discusses the approach that was used for completing the Dukovany PSA. Section 1.3 summarizes the results of the PSA. Section 1.4 provides a comparison of the results of the Dukovany PSA with the results of other PSAs for different types of reactors worldwide. Section 1.5 summarizes the conclusions of the Dukovany PSA

Shut-down margin study for the next generation VVER-1000 reactor including 13 x 13 hexagonal annular assemblies

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Faghihi, Farshad; Mirvakili, S. Mohammad

2011-01-01

Highlights: → Shut-Down Margin (SDM) for the next generation annular fuel core of typical VVER-1000, 13 x 13 assemblies are calculated. → The MCNP-5 code is run for many cases with different core burn up at various core temperatures. → There is a substantial drop in SDM in the case of annular fuel for the same power level. → SDM for our proposed VVER-1000 annular pins is calculated for specific average fuel burn up values at the BOC, MOC, and EOC. - Abstract: Shut-Down Margin (SDM) for the next generation annular fuel core of typical VVER-1000, 13 x 13 assemblies are calculated as the main aim of the present research. We have applied the MCNP-5 code for many cases with different values of core burn up at various core temperatures, and therefore their corresponding coolant densities and boric acid concentrations. There is a substantial drop in SDM in the case of annular fuel for the same power level. Specifically, SDM for our proposed VVER-1000 annular pins is calculated when the average fuel burn up values at the BOC, MOC, and EOC are 0.531, 11.5, and 43 MW-days/kg-U, respectively.

Upper plenum break LOCA investigation in the ISB-VVER and PSB-VVER facilities

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Blinkov, V. N.; Melikhov, O. I.; Lipatov, I. A.; Nikonov, S. M.; Dremin, G. I.; Galchanskaya, S. A.; Gashenko, M. P.; Rovnov, A. A.; Kapustin, A. V.; Elkin, I. V. [EREC, Moscow (Russian Federation)

2003-07-01

The capability to define the actual NPP transient/accident scenario depends to a great extent on facilities' scaling and reliability of the system thermalhydraulic codes which, in turn, are assessed against the experimental data taken in the same facilities. At the present time, it is received fact that the rigorous modeling of the cumulative set of all thermalhydraulic processes in the plant primary and secondary sides during accident is unfeasible. Therefore, the extrapolation of the facilities loops behavior to the actual systems constitutes a fundamental problem in this area. In the paper, some aspects for the problem have been discussed in the course of comparative analysis of the data derived from the 11 % upper plenum break LOCA tests performed in the PSB-VVER and ISB-VVER integral test facilities under the close scenarios. Both facilities, PSB-VVER and ISB-VVER, are modeled the same VVER-1000 reactor in different scales. The thermalhydraulic behavior of the primary systems in both facilities has been discussed in the paper, and shown to be similar. Also, the attention has been focused upon the discrepancies in the significant variables trends. The discrepancies are shown to be caused by influence of peculiarities of the facilities hardware and due to the scale factor. The scaling study is an important aspect of the thermalhydraulic codes verification procedure. Being qualified against the experimentally simulated accident sequence in two test facilities of different scales, the thermalhydraulic codes will be capable of evaluation of the prototype behavior to greater accuracy.

Model of nuclear reactor type VVER-1000/V-320 built by computer code ATHLET-CD

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Georgiev, Yoto; Filipov, Kalin; Velev, Vladimir

2014-01-01

A model of nuclear reactor type VVER-1000 V-320 developed for computer code ATHLET-CD2.1A is presented. Validation of the has been made, in the analysis of the station blackout scenario with LOCA on fourth cold leg is shown. As the calculation has been completed, the results are checked through comparison with the results from the computer codes ATHLET-2.1A, ASTEC-2.1 and RELAP5mod3.2

Response of Soviet VVER-440 accident localization systems to overpressurization

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kulak, R.F.; Fiala, C.; Sienicki, J.J.

1989-01-01

The Soviet designed VVER-440 model V230 and VVER-440 model V213 reactors do not use full containments to mitigate the effects of accidents. Instead, these VVER-440 units employ a sealed set of interconnected compartments, collectively called the accident localization system (ALS), to reduce the release of radionuclides to the atmosphere during accidents. Descriptions of the VVER accident localization structures may be found in the report DOE NE-0084. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the structural integrity of the VVER-440 ALS at the Soviet design pressure, and to determine their response to pressure loadings beyond the design value. Complex, three-dimensional, nonlinear, finite element models were developed to represent the major structural components of the localization systems of the VVER-440 models V230 and V213. The interior boundary of the localization system was incrementally pressurized in the calculations until the prediction of gross failure. 6 refs., 9 figs

Analysis of VVER-1000 large and small break LOCA experiments with RELAP5/MOD3.2

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Rychkov, M.; Chikkanagoudar, U.; Sehgal, B.R.

2004-01-01

A RELAP5 model for the analysis of the PSB-VVER test facility was developed by EREC in Russia. The PSB-VVER is a large-scale integral test facility to model the VVER-1000 type NPP. The volume and power scale in this test facility is 1:300 and the elevation scale is 1:1, which corresponds to the elevation mark of the reactor prototype. At the Division of Nuclear Safety, we have modified the PSB-VVER facility's RELAP5 model in order to analyze two of the transient tests performed on the PSB-VVER facility, which serve as the validation matrix described by NEA/CSNI. The objective of the work conducted was to validate the results obtained from RELAP5's calculation with the supplied experimental data from the PSB-VVER test facility. Two accident scenarios have been calculated and analyzed. After being verified against the '11% UP LOCA' test data, the RELAP5/MOD3.2 model was used for a so-called 'blind' transient calculation of the test '2*25% HL LOCA' and the results obtained were compared with the experimental data provided after the calculation. From the results of the qualitative and quantitative comparison of the 2 test calculations and the experimental data, we can state that the RELAP5/MOD3.2 code gives a satisfactory modeling of the PSB-VVER facility' thermal hydraulic phenomena

The in-core fuel management code system for VVER reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Cada, R.; Krysl, V.; Mikolas, P.; Sustek, J.; Svarny, J.

2004-01-01

The structure and methodology of a fuel management system for NPP VVER 1000 (NPP Temelin) and VVER 440 (NPP Dukovany) is described. It is under development in SKODA JS a.s. and is followed by practical applications. The general objectives of the system are maximization of end of cycle reactivity, the minimization of fresh fuel inventory for the minimization of fed enrichment and minimization of burnable poisons (BPs) inventory. They are also safety related constraints in witch minimization of power peaking plays a dominant role. General structure of the system consists in preparation of input data for macrocode calculation, algorithms (codes) for optimization of fuel loading, calculation of fuel enrichment and BPs assignment. At present core loading can be calculated (optimized) by Tabu search algorithm (code ATHENA), genetic algorithm (code Gen1) and hybrid algorithm - simplex procedure with application of Tabu search algorithm on binary shuffling (code OPAL B ). Enrichment search is realized by the application of simplex algorithm (OPAL B code) and BPs assignment by module BPASS and simplex algorithm in OPAL B code. Calculations of the real core loadings are presented and a comparison of different optimization methods is provided. (author)

Development of technologies for nuclear reactors of small and medium sized

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

2011-08-01

This meeting include: countries presentations, themes and objectives of the training course, reactor types, design, EPR, APR1400, A P 1000, A PWR, ATMEA 1, VVER-1000, A PWR, ATMEA 1, VVER 1200, Boiling Water Reactor, A BWR, A BWR -II, ESBUR, Ke ren, AREVA, Heavy Water Reactor, Candu 6, Acr-1000, HWR, Bw, Iris, CAREM NuCcale, Smart, KLT-HOS, Westinghouse small modular Reactor, Gas Cooled Reactors, PBMR, React ores enfriados con metales liquidos, Hs, Prism,Terra Power, Hyper ion, appliance's no electric as de energia, Generation IV Reactors,VHTR, Gas Fast Reactor, Sodium Fast Reactor, Molten salt Reactor, Lfr, Water Cooled Reactor, Technology Assessment Process, Fukushima accident.

Possibility of implementation of 6-year fuel cycle at NPP with VVER-440 reactor

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Heraltova, L., E-mail: lenka.heraltova@fjfi.cvut.cz [UJV Rez a.s., Hlavni 130, 250 68 Husinec-Rez (Czech Republic); Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Brehova 7, 115 19 Praha 1 (Czech Republic)

2015-12-15

Highlights: • Possibility of extension of fuel cycle. • Increase of enrichment above 5% {sup 235}U. • Core properties calculated by diffusion code ANDREA. • Back end fuel cycle characteristic. - Abstract: This paper discusses possibility of an extension of a fuel cycle at a VVER-440 reactor for up to 6 years. The prolongation of a fuel cycle was realized by optimization of a fuel design and increasing of a fuel enrichment. The modified design of the fuel assembly covers change of pellet geometry, decreasing of parasitic absorption in construction materials, improved moderation of fuel pins and also increase of enrichment. Fuel assemblies with enrichment up to 7% {sup 235}U are considered for prolonged fuel batches. Three different batch lengths were considered for evaluation of core properties – 12, 18 and 24 months, and two types of burnable absorbers were included – Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Er{sub 2}O{sub 3}. Comparison of proposed fuel assemblies was realized by length of a batch, average burnup, maximal power of fuel assembly or fuel pin, control fuel assembly worth, reactivity coefficients, and effective delayed neutrons fraction. Comparison of characteristics of a burned fuel discharged from a reactor core is discussed in the last part of the paper.

Burnup influence on the VVER-1000 reactor vessel neutron fluence evaluation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Panayotov, I.; Mihaylov, N.; Ilieva, K.; Kirilova, D.; Manolova, M.

2009-01-01

The neutron fluence of the vessels of the reactors is determined regularly accordingly the RPV Surveillance Program of the Kozloduy NPP Unit 5 and 6 in order to assess the state of the metal vessel and their radiation damaging. The calculations are carried out by the method of discrete ordinates used in the TORT program for operated reactor cycles. An average reactor spectrum corresponding to fresh U-235 fuel is used as an input neutron source. The impact of the burn up of the fuel on the neutron fluence of VVER-1000 reactor vessel is evaluated. The calculations of isotopic concentrations of U-235 and Pu-239 corresponding to 4 years burn up were performed by the module SAS2H of the code system SCALE 4.4. Since fresh fuel or 4 years burn up fuel assembly are placed in periphery of reactor core the contribution of Pu-239 of first year burn up and of 4 years burn up is taken in consideration. Calculations of neutron fluence were performed with neutron spectrum for fresh fuel, for 1 year and for 4 years burn up fuel. Correction factors for neutron fluence at the inner surface of the reactor vessel, in 1/4 depth of the vessel and in the air behind the vessel were obtained. The correction coefficient could be used when the neutron fluence is assessed so in verification when the measured activity of ex-vessel detectors is compared with calculated ones. (authors)

Design issues concerning Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant VVER-1000 conversion

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Carson, C.F.

1996-01-01

On January 8, 1995, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) signed a contract for $800 million with the Russian Federation Ministry for Atomic Energy (Minatom) to complete Bushehr nuclear power plant (BNPP) unit 1. The agreement called for a Russian VVER-1000/320 pressurized water reactor (PWR) to be successfully installed into the existing German-built BNPP facilities in 5 yr. System design differences, bomb damage, and environmental exposure are key issues with which Minatom must contend in order to fulfill the contract. The AEOI under the Shah of Iran envisioned Bushehr as the first of many nuclear power plants, with Iran achieving 24 GW(electric) by 1993 and 34 GW(electric) by 2000. Kraftwerk Union AG (KWU) began construction of the two-unit plant near the Persian Gulf town of Halileh in 1975. Unit 1 was ∼80% complete and unit 2 was ∼50% complete when construction was interrupted by the 1979 Iranian Islamic revolution. Despite repeated AEOI attempts to lure KWU and other companies back to Iran to complete the plant, Western concerns about nuclear proliferation in Iran and repeated bombings of the plant during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war dissuaded Germany from resuming construction

Experience in modernization of safety I and C in VVER 440 nuclear power plants Bohunice V1 and Paks

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Martin, M.

2000-01-01

For nuclear power plants which have been in operation for more than 15 years, backfitting or even complete replacement of the instrumentation and control (I and C) equipment becomes an increasingly attractive option, motivated not only by the objective to reduce the cost of I and C system maintenance and repair but also to prolong or at least to safeguard the plant life-time: optimized spare-part management through use of standard equipment; reduction of number and variety of different items of equipment by implementing functions stepwise in application software; adding new functionality in the application software which was not possible in the old technology due to lack of space; safeguarding of long-term After-Sales-Service. Some years ago Bohunice V1 NPP, Slovak Republic and Paks NPP, Hungary intended to replace parts of their Safety I and C, mainly the Reactor Trip System, the Reactor Limitation System and the Neutron Flux Excore Instrumentation and Monitoring Systems. After a Basic Engineering Phase in Bohunice V1 and a Feasibility Study in Paks both plants decided to use the Siemens' Digital Safety I and C System TELEPERM XS to modernize their plants. Both Bohunice, Unit 2 and Paks, Unit 1 have been back on line for over six months with the new Digital Safety I and C. At the present time Bohunice, Unit 1 and within the next few months Paks, Unit 2 will be replaced. Trouble-free start-ups and no major problems under operation in the first two plants were based on: thorough understanding of the VVER 440 technology; comprehensive planning together with the plant operators and authorities; the possibility to adapt TELEPERM XS to every plant type; the execution of extensive pre-operational tests. Regarding these modernization measures Siemens, as well as the above Operators, have gained considerable experience in the field of I and C Modernization in VVER 440 NPPs. Important aspects of this experience are: how to transfer the VVER technology to TELEPERM XS; how to

CFX-10 and RELAP5-3D simulations of coolant mixing phenomena in RPV of VVER-1000 reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Terzuoli, F.; Moretti, F.; Melideo, D.; D'Auria, F.; Shkarupa, O.

2006-01-01

The present paper deals with numerical analyses of coolant mixing in the reactor pressure vessel of a VVER-1000 reactor, performed with the ANSYS CFX-10 CFD code and with the RELAP5-3D system code. In particular, the attention focused on the 'swirl' effect that has been observed to take place in the downcomer of such kind of reactor, with the aim of assessing the capability of the codes to predict that effect, and to understand the reasons for its occurrence. The results have been compared against experimental data from V1000CT-2 Benchmark. (author)

Determination of the Effectiveness of Control Rods in the VVER Reactor Fuel Assemblies; Determination de l'Efficacite des Barres de Reglage dans les Ensembles Combustibles du reacteur VVER; Opredelenie ehffektivnosti reguliruyushchikh sterzhnej v sborkakh reaktora VVEHR; Determinacion de la Eficacia de las Barras de Control en los Conjuntos de Elementos Combustibles del Reactor VVER

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Semenov, V. N.; Lunin, G. L.; Komissarov, L. V.; Kamyshan, A. N.; Halizev, V. I.; Andrianov, G. Ja.; Voznesenskij, V. A.; Kuz' micheva, V. A.; Lebedev, V. I. [Ordena Lenina Institut Atomnoj Energii Im. I.V. Kurchatova, Moskva, SSSR (Russian Federation)

1964-06-15

The paper describes experiments done in homogeneous mock-ups of the fuel assemblies from the VVER Reactor (at one level of enrichment) to determine the effectiveness of absorbing systems comprising shim fuel assemblies or water cavities and of absorbing rods clad in jackets made of differing materials. The paper also gives data on some experiments that have been done in mock-ups of assemblies with differing levels of enrichment. These experiments make it possible to verify the methods used in calculation and to evaluate the prospects of using them for heterogeneous reactors. (author) [French] Le memoire decrit les experiences qui ont ete faites pour determiner l 'efficacite des absorbants contenus dans les barres de compensation, l'effet cavitaire et l 'efficacite des absorbants gaines de materiaux divers, au moyen d'assemblages homogenes de cartouches de combustible du reacteur VVER (reacteur de puissance ralenti et refroidi a l 'eau ayant le meme taux d'enrichissement. On y trouve en outre des donnees sur certaines experiences executees a l 'aide d'assemblages de cartouches de combustible taux d'enrichissement differents. Ces travaux permettent de verifier la methode de calcul et d'evaluer ses possibilites d'application aux reacteurs non homogenes. (author) [Spanish] Se describen en la memoria experimentos para determinar la eficacia de los materiales absorbentes contenidos en las barras de compensacion, el efecto de cavitacion y la eficacia de los materiales absorbentes revestidos de diversos materiales, realizados con ayuda de los conjuntos homogeneos de elementos combustibles del reactor VVER (reactor de potencia moderado y refrigerado por agua) con un solo grado de enriquecimiento. Ademas, se exponen datos sobre los experimentos efectuados con ayuda de conjuntos de grados de enriquecimientos; variados. Tales experimentos permiten verificar el metodo de calculo teorico, utilizad o y evaluar la posibilidad de aplicarlo a los reactores no homogeneos. (author

Study on safety analysis of VVER-1200/V491 in scenario of Loss of Coolant Accidents along with partly failure of ECCS using RELAP5 code

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hoang Minh Giang; Ha Thi Anh Dao; Hoang Tan Hung; Bui Thi Hoa; Nguyen Thi Tu Oanh; Dinh Anh Tuan; Pham Tuan Nam

2017-01-01

The advanced VVER-1200/V491 reactor designed with passive safety systems to deal with design extension conditions is primarily selected as priority candidate for Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant project. So that, in order to enhance competence of nuclear safety and toward participation on review Safety Analysis Report (SAR) of Ninh Thuan nuclear Power project the study on safety analysis of VVER-1200/V491 in scenario of Loss of Coolant Accidents along with partly failure of ECCS is implemented. As requirement of the study, the input deck file of VVER-1200/V491 for RELAP5 and analysis report for some special case of LOCAs along with partly failure of ECCS are issued. (author)

The role of PRA in the safety assessment of VVER Nuclear Power Plants in Ukraine

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kot, C.

1999-01-01

Ukraine operates thirteen (13) Soviet-designed pressurized water reactors, VVERS. All Ukrainian plants are currently operating with annually renewable permits until they update their safety analysis reports (SARs), in accordance with new SAR content requirements issued in September 1995, by the Nuclear Regulatory Authority and the Government Nuclear Power Coordinating Committee of Ukraine. The requirements are in three major areas: design basis accident (DBA) analysis, probabilistic risk assessment (PRA), and beyond design-basis accident (BDBA) analysis. The last two requirements, on PRA and BDBA, are new, and the DBA requirements are an expanded version of the older SAR requirements. The US Department of Energy (USDOE), as part of its Soviet-Designed Reactor Safety activities, is providing assistance and technology transfer to Ukraine to support their nuclear power plants (NPPs) in developing a Western-type technical basis for the new SARs. USDOE sponsored In-Depth Safety Assessments (ISAs) are in progress at three pilot nuclear reactor units in Ukraine, South Ukraine Unit 1, Zaporizhzhya Unit 5, and Rivne Unit 1, and a follow-on study has been initiated at Khmenytskyy Unit 1. The ISA projects encompass most areas of plant safety evaluation, but the initial emphasis is on performing a detailed, plant-specific Level 1 Internal Events PRA. This allows the early definition of the plant risk profile, the identification of risk significant accident sequences and plant vulnerabilities and provides guidance for the remainder of the safety assessments

Progress in the U.S. department of energy sponsored in-depth safety assessments of VVER and RBMK reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Binder, J.L.; Petri, M.C.; Pasedag, W.F.

2001-01-01

Since the disastrous accident at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Unit 4 in 1986, there has been international recognition of the safety concerns posed by the operation of 67 Soviet-designed commercial nuclear reactors. These reactors are operated in eight countries from the former Soviet Union and its former satellite states in Central and Eastern Europe. The majority of these plants are in the Russian Federation (30 units) and Ukraine (14 units). New plants are in various stages of construction. U.S. support to improve the safety of Soviet-designed reactors over the past decade has been intended to enhance operational safety, provide for risk-reduction measures, and enhance regulatory capability. The U.S. approach to improving the safety of Soviet-designed reactors has matured into a large multi-year program known as the Soviet-Designed Reactor Safety Program that is managed by the U.S. Department of Energy (US DOE). The mission of the program is to implement a self-sustaining nuclear safety improvement program that would lead to internationally accepted safety practices at the plants. Those practices would create a safety culture that would be reflected in the operation, regulation, and professional attitudes of the designers, operators, and regulators of the nuclear facilities. A key component of this larger program has been the Plant Safety Evaluation Program, which supports in-depth safety assessments of VVER and RBMK plants. (author)

Experimental Investigation of Operation of VVER Steam Generator in Condensation Mode in the Event of the Severe Accident

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Morozov, Andrey [Institute for Physics and Power Engineering by A.I. Leypunsky, 1 Bondarenko sq. Obninsk, 249033 (Russian Federation)

2008-07-01

For new Russian nuclear power plants with VVER-1200 reactor in the event of a beyond design basis accident, provision is made for the use of passive safety systems for necessary core cooling. These safety systems include the passive heat removal system (PHRS). In the case of leakage in the primary circuit this system assures the transition of steam generators (SG) to operation in the mode of condensation of the primary circuit steam. As a result, the condensate from SG arrives at the core providing its additional cooling. To investigate the condensation mode of VVER SG operation, a large scale HA2M-SG test facility was constructed. The rig incorporates: buffer tank, SG model with scale is 1:46, PHRS heat exchanger. Experiments at the test facility have been performed to investigate condensation mode of operation of SG model at the pressure 0.4 MPa, correspond to VVER reactor pressure at the last stage of the beyond design basis accident. The report presents the test procedure and the basic obtained test results. (authors)

Overview of VVER water chemistry

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ganesh, S.; Selvaraj, S.; Balasubramanian, M.R.; Selvavinayagam, P.; Sundar, R.S.

2007-01-01

Kudankulam Nuclear Power project is having twin units of 1000MWe of VVER type. This paper highlights the different analytical techniques that are followed to maintain the system chemistry within the technical specifications. This paper also briefs the different chemicals that are added to the systems and how they are monitored. Basic differences with respect to chemistry between a PHWR and VVER are also highlighted in this paper. (author)

Influence of geometrical parameters of the VVER-1000 reactor construction elements to internals irradiation conditions

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

О. M. Pugach

2015-07-01

Full Text Available Investigations to determine the influences of geometrical parameters of the calculational VVER-1000 reactor model to the results of internal irradiation condition determination are carried out. It is shown that the values of appropriate sensitivity matrix elements are not dependent on a height coordinate for any core level, but there is their azimuthal dependence. Maximum possible relative biases of neutron fluence due to inexact knowledge of internal geometrical parameters are obtained for the baffle and the barrel.

A Roadmap and Discussion of Issues for Physics Analyses Required to Support Plutonium Disposition in VVER-1000 Reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Primm, R.T.; Drischler, J.D.; Pavlovichev, A.M.; Styrine, Y.A.

2000-01-01

The purpose of this report is to document the physics analyses that must be performed to successfully disposition weapons-usable plutonium in VVER-1000 reactors in the Russian Federation. The report is a document to support programmatic and financial planning. It does not include documentation of the technical procedures by which physics analyses are performed, nor are the results of any analyses included

A Roadmap and Discussion of Issues for Physics Analyses Required to Support Plutonium Disposition in VVER-1000 Reactors

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Primm, R.T.; Drischler, J.D.; Pavlovichev, A.M. Styrine, Y.A.

2000-06-01

The purpose of this report is to document the physics analyses that must be performed to successfully disposition weapons-usable plutonium in VVER-1000 reactors in the Russian Federation. The report is a document to support programmatic and financial planning. It does not include documentation of the technical procedures by which physics analyses are performed, nor are the results of any analyses included.

New treatment centers for radioactive waste from Russian designed VVER-reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chrubasik, A.

1997-01-01

The nuclear power plants using Russian designed VVER-type reactors, were engineered and designed without any wastes treatment facilities. The liquid and solid waste were collected in storage tanks and shelters. After many years of operation, the storage capabilities are exhausted. The treatment of the stored and still generated waste represents a problem of reactor safety and requires a short term solution. NUKEM has been commissioned to design and construct several new treatment centers to remove and process the stored waste. This paper describes the process and lessons learned on the development of this system. The new radioactive waste treatment center (RWTC) includes comprehensive systems to treat both liquid and solid wastes. The process includes: 1) treatment of evaporator concentrates, 2) treatment of ion exchange resins, 3) treatment of solid burnable waste, 4) treatment of liquid burnable waste, 5) treatment of solid decontaminable waste, 6) treatment of solid compactible waste. To treat these waste streams, various separate systems and facilities are needed. Six major facilities are constructed including: 1. A sorting facility with systems for waste segregation. 2. A high-force compactor facility for volume reduction of non-burnable waste. 3. An incinerator facility for destruction of: 1) solid burnable waste, 2) liquid burnable waste, 3) low level radioactive ion exchange resins. 4. A facility for melting of incineration residue. 5. A cementation facility for stabilization of: 1) medium level radioactive ion exchange resins, 2) solid non compactible waste, 3) compacted solid waste. 6. Separation of radionuclides from evaporator concentrates. This presentation will address the facilities, systems, and lessons learned in the development of the new treatment centers. (author)

VVER operational safety improvements: lessons learnt from European co-operation and future research needs

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Pazdera, F.; Vasa, I.; Zd'arek, J.

2003-01-01

The paper summarises involvement of Nuclear Research Institute Rez (NRI) in the areas which are directly related to Reactor Operational Safety and Plant Life Management, it also gives an idea how results of the research projects can be used to enhance safety of VVER reactors. These issues are for many years subject of a wide international co-operation effort, covered by such programmes as PHARE, OECD/NEA TACIS, 5th Framework Programme. Nuclear Research Institute participated in the majority of these programmes and projects, which allowed us to evaluate benefits (especially for VVER reactors) of the projects already finalised or running, as well as to formulate so-called 'future research needs', which possibly may be pursued within 6th Framework Programme. The paper highlights the main features of some projects our Institute was and is involved in, emphasising the most important results, expectations and future needs. It also very briefly, deals with some general and particular lessons learnt within these projects and their application to VVER reactors, especially as to their safety improvement. The paper also mentions VVER-focused projects and activities, co-ordinated by the OECD, which should enable to extend multilateral contacts already existing between organisations of the EU countries to include organisations from Russia, USA, Japan and possibly some other countries

The strength of the reactor cavity of VVER-1000 NPP against steam explosion

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Varpasuo, P.

1995-01-01

The reactor cavity of VVER-1000 NPP is a thick-walled, cylindrical reinforced concrete structure. In case of molten core-water reaction during the severe accident the load carrying capacity of the cavity structure is of interest against the short impulse type loading caused by the steam explosion phenomenon. The assumed size of the impulse was 20 kPa-s and the duration was 10 ms. The static analysis of the structure used the ABAQUS/STANDARD and ANSYS codes. The material properties in both runs were specified to be elasto-plastic, and the cracking of concrete was taken into account. (author). 2 refs., 5 figs

Qualification of UT methods and systems used for in-service inspections of VVER 440 vessels

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Skala, Z.; Vit, J.

2003-01-01

SKODA JS has been performing automated in-service inspections VVER reactor pressure vessels for more than twenty years. All of these inspections were performed by ultrasonic pulse echo method, combined from 1996 with eddy current testing. The Time of Flight Diffraction Method (TOFD) is one of modern methods of ultrasonic testing. The accuracy of sizing the through wall extent of a flaw by TOFD is much better than the accuracy achievable by the pulse echo method. A series of laboratory tests were performed by SKODA JS and confirmed the suitability of TOFD method for VVER reactor parts testing. The Czech Atomic law demands the qualification of systems and methods used for the in-service inspections of nuclear reactors. The qualification is done in accordance with ENIQ methodology and consists of preparation of the Technical Justification and practical tests made under the surveillance of Qualification Body. SKODA JS intends to qualify systems and methods used for the automated ultrasonic testing of VVER 440 and VVER 1000 reactor components from the inner as well as from the outer surface. The accuracy of the flaw through wall extent sizing by TOFD was confirmed by the qualification of methods and systems used for the testing of VVER 440 vessel circumferential weld and so the TOFD method shall be used routinely by SKODA JS for the inspection of vessel circumferential welds root area and for sizing of flaws exceeding the acceptance level. (author)

Evaluation of carbon-14 life cycle in reactors VVER-1000

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lysakova, Katerina; Neumann, Jan; Vonkova, Katerina

2012-09-01

This work is aimed at the evaluation of carbon-14 life cycle in light water reactors VVER-1000. Carbon-14 is generated as a side product in different systems of nuclear reactors and has been an issue not only in radioactive waste management but mainly in release into the environment in the form of gaseous effluents. The principal sources of this radionuclide are in primary cooling water and fuel. Considerable amount of C-14 is generated by neutron reactions with oxygen 17 O and nitrogen 14 N present in water coolant and fuel. The reaction likelihood and consequently volume of generated radioisotope depends on several factors, especially on the effective cross-section, concentrations of parent elements and conditions of power plant operating strategies. Due to its long half-life and high capability of integration into the environment and thus into the living species, it is very important to monitor the movement of carbon-14 in all systems of nuclear power plant and to manage its release out of NPP. The dominant forms of radioactive carbon-14 are the hydrocarbons owing to the combinations with hydrogen used for absorption of radiolytic oxygen. These organic compounds, such as formaldehyde, methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol and formic acid can be mostly retained on ion exchange resins used in the system for purifying primary cooling water. The gaseous carbon compounds (CH 4 and CO 2 ) are released into the atmosphere via the ventilation systems of NPP. Based on the information and data obtained from different sources, it has been designed a balance model of possible carbon-14 pathways throughout the whole NPP. This model includes also mass balance model equations for each important node in system and available sampling points which will be the background for further calculations. This document is specifically not to intended to describe the best monitoring program attributes or technologies but rather to provide evaluation of obtained data and find the optimal way to

Multiple recycle of REMIX fuel at VVER-1000 operation in closed fuel cycle

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Alekseev, P. N.; Bobrov, E. A., E-mail: evgeniybobrov89@rambler.ru; Chibinyaev, A. V.; Teplov, P. S.; Dudnikov, A. A. [National Research Center Kurchatov Institute (Russian Federation)

2015-12-15

The basic features of loading the VVER-1000 core with a new variant of REMIX fuel (REgenerated MIXture of U–Pu oxides) are considered during its multiple recycle in a closed nuclear fuel cycle. The fuel composition is produced on the basis of the uranium–plutonium regenerate extracted at processing the spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from a VVER-1000, depleted uranium, and the fissionable material: {sup 235}U as a part of highly enriched uranium (HEU) from warheads superfluous for defense purposes or {sup 233}U accumulated in thorium blankets of fusion (electronuclear) neutron sources or fast reactors. Production of such a fuel assumes no use of natural uranium in addition. When converting a part of the VVER-1000 reactors to the closed fuel cycle based on the REMIX technology, the consumption of natural uranium decreases considerably, and there is no substantial degradation of the isotopic composition of plutonium or change in the reactor-safety characteristics at the passage from recycle to recycle.

Development of advanced nuclear reactors in Russia

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sotoudeh, M.; Silakhori, K.; Sepanloo, K.; Jahanfarnia, G.; Moattar, F.

2008-01-01

Several advanced reactor designs have been so far developed in Russia. The AES-91 and AES-92 plants with the VVER-1000 reactors have been developed at the beginning of 1990. However, the former design has been built in China and the latest which is certified meeting European Utility Requirements is being built in India. Moreover, the model VVER-1500 reactor with 50-60 MWd/t burn-up and an enhanced safety was being developed by Gidropress about 2005, excepting to be completed in 2007. But, this schedule has slipped in favor of development of the AES-2006 power plant incorporating a third-generation standardized VVER-1200 reactor of 1170 MWe. This is an evolutionary development of the well-proven VVER-1000 reactor in the AES-92 plant, with longer life, greater power and efficiency and its lead units are being built at Novovoronezh II, to start operation in 2012-13. Based on Atomenergoproekt declaration, the AES-2006 conforms to both Russian standards and European Utility Requirements. The most important features of the AES-2006 design are mentioned as: a design based on the passive safety systems, double containment, longer plant service life of 50 years with a capacity factor of 92%, longer irreplaceable components service life of 60 years, a 28.6% lower amount of concrete and metal, shorter construction time of 54 months, a Core Damage Frequency of 1x10 -7 / year and lower liquid and solid wastes by 70% and 80% respectively. The presented paper includes a comparative analysis of technological and safety features, economic parameters and environmental impact of the AES-2006 design versus the other western advanced reactors. Since the Bushehr phase II NPP and several other NPPs are planning in Iran, such analysis would be of a great importance

Experimental studies of resistance fretting-wear of fuel rods for VVER-1000 and TVS-KVADRAT fuel assemblies

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Makarov, V.; Afanasiev, A.; Egorov, Yu.; Matvienko, I.

2015-01-01

The paper covers the results of the studies performed to justify the wear resistance of fuel rods in contact with the spacer grids of TVS VVER-1000 fuel assembly and TVS-KVADRAT square fuel assembly of Russian design for PWR-900 reactor. The presented results of three testing stages comprise: Testing of mockup fuel rods of VVER TVS fuel assembly for fretting wear under the conditions of the water chemistry of VVER reactor; Testing models of different design embodiments of the fuel rods for VVER TVS fuel assembly for fretting wear in still cold water; Testing mockup fuel rods of TVS-KVADRAT square fuel assembly for PWR reactor for frettingwear under the conditions of PWR water chemistry. The effect of structural and operational factors was determined (amplitudes, fuel rod vibration frequencies, values of cladding-to-spacer grid cell gap for the depth of fuel rod cladding wear etc.), an assessment was made of the threshold values of fuel rod vibration parameters, which, if not exceeded, provide the absence of the fuel rod cladding fretting wear in the fuel rod-to spacer grid contact area. Key words: fretting wear, fuel rod, spacer grid, VVER, PWR (author)

Multi codes and multi-scale analysis for void fraction prediction in hot channel for VVER-1000/V392

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hoang Minh Giang; Hoang Tan Hung; Nguyen Huu Tiep

2015-01-01

Recently, an approach of multi codes and multi-scale analysis is widely applied to study core thermal hydraulic behavior such as void fraction prediction. Better results are achieved by using multi codes or coupling codes such as PARCS and RELAP5. The advantage of multi-scale analysis is zooming of the interested part in the simulated domain for detail investigation. Therefore, in this study, the multi codes between MCNP5, RELAP5, CTF and also the multi-scale analysis based RELAP5 and CTF are applied to investigate void fraction in hot channel of VVER-1000/V392 reactor. Since VVER-1000/V392 reactor is a typical advanced reactor that can be considered as the base to develop later VVER-1200 reactor, then understanding core behavior in transient conditions is necessary in order to investigate VVER technology. It is shown that the item of near wall boiling, Γ w in RELAP5 proposed by Lahey mechanistic method may not give enough accuracy of void fraction prediction as smaller scale code as CTF. (author)

Calculation of the fuel composition and the thermo-neutronic parameters of the Bushehr’s VVER-1000 reactor during the initial startup and the first cycle using the WIMSD5-B, CITATION-LDI2 and WERL codes

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Rahmani, Yashar; Pazirandeh, Ali; Ghofrani, Mohammad B.; Sadighi, Mostafa

2013-01-01

Highlights: ► In this paper, the changes of the thermo-neutronic parameters of a VVER 1000 reactor were studied during the first cycle. ► The coupling of neutronic and thermo-hydraulic codes was utilized. ► A computational program (WERL code) was designed to calculate the temperature distribution of the reactor core. ► To estimate the concentration of the released gaseous fission products, the Weisman model was used. ► The results of this study enjoyed the desirable accuracy. - Abstract: In this paper, the concentrations of fission products and fuel isotopes as well as the changes of the thermo-neutronic parameters of the Bushehr’s VVER-1000 reactor were studied during the initial startup and the first cycle. In order to perform the time-dependent cell calculations and obtain the concentration of fuel elements, the WIMSD5-B code was used. Besides, by utilizing the CITATION-LDI2 code, the effective multiplication factor and the thermal power distribution of the reactor were calculated. A computer program (WERL code) was designed in order to perform accurate calculation of the temperature distribution of the reactor core. For this purpose, the Ross–Stoute, Weisman, and Lee–Kesler models were used for calculating of the gap conductance coefficient, fission gas release and gap pressure, respectively. The results demonstrated that in designing the startup process, in addition to the role considered for overcoming the power defects and in preparing the required conditions for performing the safety-assurance tests, the flattening of the reactor’s power must be taken into account. Comparison between the results of this modeling and the final safety analysis report of this reactor showed that the results presented in this paper are satisfactorily accurate

Economical aspects of multiple plutonium and uranium recycling in VVER reactors

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Alekseev, P.N.; Bobrov, E.A.; Dudnikov, A.A.; Teplov, P.S. [National Research Centre ' Kurchatov Institute' , Moscow (Russian Federation)

2016-09-15

The basic strategy of Russian Nuclear Energy development is the formation of the closed fuel cycle based on fast breeder and thermal reactors, as well as the solution of problems of spent nuclear fuel accumulation and availability of resources. Three options of multiple Pu and U recycling in VVER reactors are considered in this work. Comparison of MOX and REMIX fuel recycling approaches for the closed fuel cycle involving thermal reactors is presented. REMIX fuel is supposed to be fabricated from non-separated mixture of uranium and plutonium obtained in spent fuel reprocessing with further makeup by enriched U. These options make it possible to recycle several times the total amount of Pu and U obtained from spent fuel. The main difference is the full or partial fuel loading of the core by assemblies with recycled Pu. The third option presents the concept of heterogeneous arrangement of fuel pins made of enriched uranium and MOX in one fuel assembly. It should be noted that fabrication of all fuel assemblies with Pu requires the use of expensive manufacturing technology. These three options of core loading can be balanced with respect to maximum Pu and U involvement in the fuel cycle. Various physical and economical aspects of Pu and U multiple recycling for selected options are considered in this work.

Physical startup tests for VVER-1200 of Novovoronezh NPP. Advanced technique and some results

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Afanasiev, Dmitry A.; Kraynov, Yury A.; Pinegin, Anatoly A.; Tsyganov, Sergey V. [National Research Centre, Moscow (Russian Federation). Kurchatov Inst.

2017-09-15

The intention of the startup physics tests was to confirm design characteristics of the core loading and their compliance with safety analysis preconditions. The program of startup tests for the leading unit is usually composed in such a way that is is possible to study as much neutron-physical characteristics as possible in the safest condition of zero power. State-of-the-art safety analysis is including computer codes that use three dimensional neutron kinetics and thermohydraulics models. For the substantiation of such models, for its validation and verification there is a need in reactor experiments that implementing spatially distributed transients. We based on such statements when composing hot zero power physical startup program for the new VVER-1200 unit of Novovoronezh NPP. Several tests unconventional for VVER were developed for that program. It includes measuring the worth for each of control rod groups and measuring of single rod worth from the inserted groups - test that models rod ejection event in some sense.

Modernization incore monitoring system of WWER-1000 reactors (V-320)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mitin, Valentin; Semchenkov, Yurij; Kalinushkin, Andrey

2008-01-01

Modern ICIS system for VVER-1000, including a number of sensors, cable runs, corresponding measuring equipment and computer engineering, software, accumulated 30 year experience of interaction researches on VVER reactors and is capable to ensure carrying out of control, protection, informational, diagnostic functions and thus to promote real increase of quality, reliability and safety in nuclear fuel and NPP power units operation

French-Finnish colloquium on safety of French and Russian type nuclear power plants

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lukka, M.; Jaervinen, M.; Minkkinen, P.; Ukkola, A.; Levomaeki, L.

1994-01-01

The French-Finnish Colloquium on Safety of French and Russian Type Nuclear Power Plants was held in June, 14th - 16th, 1994, in Lappeenranta, Finland. The main topics of the colloquium were: VVER and RBMK reactors; Industrial safety studies for VVER's in FRAMATOME; Structural safety analysis of Ignalina NPP; Thermalhydraulic system (BETHSY) and analytical experiments for French NPP; Test facilities simulating VVER plants during accidents; PACTEL - facility for VVER thermal hydraulics; High burn-up fuel and reactivity accidents; Overview of severe accident research at Nuclear Protection and Safety Institute of CEA; Research of severe accidents in Finland; Review of main activities concerning computer codes used for VVER thermal-hydraulic safety analysis in OKB Gidropress; CATHARE code; APROS computer code, new developments; TRIO and TOLBIAC computer codes; ESTET and N3S softwares; HEXTRAN - 3D reactor dynamics code for VVER accident analysis; An overview the boron dilution issue in PWRs; Boron mixing transients in a 900 MW PWR vessel for a reactor start-up operation; and Problem of boric acid dilution in IVO

The Procedure for Determination of Special Margin Factors to Account for a Bow of the VVER-1000 Fuel Assemblies

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tsyganov, Sergey V.; Marin, Stanislav V.; Shishkov, Lev K.

2008-01-01

Starting from 1980's, the problem of bow of the VVER-1000 reactor FAs and the effect of that on the operational safety is being discussed. At the initial period of time, the extension of time for dropping control rods of the control and protection system associated with this bow posed the highest threat. Later on, new more rigid structures were developed for FAs that eliminated the problems of control rods. However, bow of the VVER-1000 reactor FAs is observed up to now. The scale of this bow reduced significantly but it still effects safety. Even a minor bow available may lead to the noticeable increase of power of individual fuel pins associated with the local variation of the coolant amount. This effect must be taken into account on designing fuel loadings to eliminate the exceeding of set limitations. The introduction of additional special margins is the standard method for taking this effect into account. The present paper describes the conservative technique for the assessment of additional margins for bow of FAs of state-of-the-art designs. This technique is employed in the VVER-1000 reactor designing. The chosen conservatism degree is discussed as well as the method for its assurance and acceptable ways for its slackening. The example of the margin evaluation for the up-to-date fuel loading is given. (authors)

The Procedure for Determination of Special Margin Factors to Account for a Bow of the VVER-1000 Fuel Assemblies

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Tsyganov, Sergey V.; Marin, Stanislav V.; Shishkov, Lev K. [Russian Research Center ' Kurchatov Institute' , 1., Kurchatov sq., 123182 Moscow (Russian Federation)

2008-07-01

Starting from 1980's, the problem of bow of the VVER-1000 reactor FAs and the effect of that on the operational safety is being discussed. At the initial period of time, the extension of time for dropping control rods of the control and protection system associated with this bow posed the highest threat. Later on, new more rigid structures were developed for FAs that eliminated the problems of control rods. However, bow of the VVER-1000 reactor FAs is observed up to now. The scale of this bow reduced significantly but it still effects safety. Even a minor bow available may lead to the noticeable increase of power of individual fuel pins associated with the local variation of the coolant amount. This effect must be taken into account on designing fuel loadings to eliminate the exceeding of set limitations. The introduction of additional special margins is the standard method for taking this effect into account. The present paper describes the conservative technique for the assessment of additional margins for bow of FAs of state-of-the-art designs. This technique is employed in the VVER-1000 reactor designing. The chosen conservatism degree is discussed as well as the method for its assurance and acceptable ways for its slackening. The example of the margin evaluation for the up-to-date fuel loading is given. (authors)

The experimental definition of the acoustic standing wave series shapes, formed in the coolant of the primary circuit of VVER-440 type reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bulavin, V.V.; Pavelko, V.I.

1995-01-01

On the basis of pressure fluctuation measurements in some primary circuit loops at 2 nd Unit of Kola NPP with VVER-440 type reactors, the shapes of acoustic standing waves (ASW) were determined at frequencies corresponding to four minimal oscillation eigenfrequencies in the primary circuit coolant. On identification of the ASW modes and properties, experimental results based on six circulating loops in symmetric arrangement allowed determination of the three-dimensional space structure of the wave nodes and antinodes inside and outside of the reactor vessel (RV). As part of this analysis, the geometric features of the primary circuit that caused the formation of these standing waves were identified. Differences in each ASW shape were shown to cause different individual effects on the neutron field in the reactor core and on fuel assembly vibration. This has been partially confirmed by ex-core neutron ionization chamber noise analysis. One type of ASW, possessing an antinode inside the RV, can be used for measurement of the pressure coefficient of reactivity. However, this must be done with care to avoid the potential for incorrect results in some cases. The results presented in this paper can be readily extended to other VVER type reactors with both odd and even number of loops. (author)

State space modeling of reactor core in a pressurized water reactor

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ashaari, A.; Ahmad, T.; M, Wan Munirah W. [Department of Mathematical Science, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor (Malaysia); Shamsuddin, Mustaffa [Institute of Ibnu Sina, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor (Malaysia); Abdullah, M. Adib [Swinburne University of Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science, Jalan Simpang Tiga, 93350 Kuching, Sarawak (Malaysia)

2014-07-10

The power control system of a nuclear reactor is the key system that ensures a safe operation for a nuclear power plant. However, a mathematical model of a nuclear power plant is in the form of nonlinear process and time dependent that give very hard to be described. One of the important components of a Pressurized Water Reactor is the Reactor core. The aim of this study is to analyze the performance of power produced from a reactor core using temperature of the moderator as an input. Mathematical representation of the state space model of the reactor core control system is presented and analyzed in this paper. The data and parameters are taken from a real time VVER-type Pressurized Water Reactor and will be verified using Matlab and Simulink. Based on the simulation conducted, the results show that the temperature of the moderator plays an important role in determining the power of reactor core.

Experimental study of asymmetric boron dilution at VVER-1000 of Kudankulam NPP and its simulation

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Tsyganov, Sergey V.; Kotsarev, Alexander V.; Baykov, Alexander V. [National Research Centre ' ' Kurchatov Institute' ' , Moscow (Russian Federation)

2017-09-15

The Kudankulam NPP units contain additional and unique for VVER Quick Boron Injection System (QBIS) for beyond-design-basis accident management without scram. During the physical start-up stage at hot zero power of both Kudankulam units, special tests were performed to assess the efficiency of the system. In the course of test three out of four QBIS tanks had been promptly opened and it led to the asymmetrical injection of boric acid into the core. The scenario of the tests may address to the inhomogeneous boron dilution process that is now an essential part of safety analysis of pressurised water reactors. The simulation of the process, including ex-core ion chambers readings, has been accomplished using ATHLET/BIPR-VVER code. Behaviour of some reactor parameters in the course of the test and some results of the simulation are discussing in the paper. Authors believe the process of the asymmetrical injection of boric acid may be useful for verification and validation of coupled neutronic and thermo-hydraulic codes widely used for safety analysis, including analysis of boron dilution accident.

Analysis of transients for NPP with VVER-440 using the code SiTAP

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kalinenko, V.

1994-06-01

The report contains analysis of transients ''Loop connection'' and ''Steam generator tube rupture'' for nuclear power plants (NPP) with VVER-440. To obtain more detailed information about NPP's dynamic characteristics, various variants of initial and boundary conditions are considerd. Calculation of these transients was performed using the SiTAP code developed at the Nuclear Safety Institute of the Russian Research Centre ''Kurchatov Institute''. SiTAP code is a multifunctional computer tool for fast analysis of transient and accidental processes of VVER type reactors for engineers working in the field of NPP dynamics. SiTAP can be used form comparative analysis of several variants of accident scenarios to find out the conditions leading to most serious consequences from a safety point of view. In such cases, additional analyses using best-estimate codes should be carried out. The results of SiTAP for a faulty loop connection leading to a boron dilution accident are intended to be used as boundary conditions for a more detailed anlaysis with the aid of the three-dimensional reactor core model DYN3D, developed in the Research Centre Rossendorf for the simulation of reactivity initiated accidents. (orig.)

Shaping of the axial power density distribution in the core to minimize the vapor volume fraction at the outlet of the VVER-1200 fuel assemblies

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Savander, V. I.; Shumskiy, B. E., E-mail: borisshumskij@yandex.ru [National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Russian Federation); Pinegin, A. A. [National Research Center Kurchatov Institute (Russian Federation)

2016-12-15

The possibility of decreasing the vapor fraction at the VVER-1200 fuel assembly outlet by shaping the axial power density field is considered. The power density field was shaped by axial redistribution of the concentration of the burnable gadolinium poison in the Gd-containing fuel rods. The mathematical modeling of the VVER-1200 core was performed using the NOSTRA computer code.

3D neutronic codes coupled with thermal-hydraulic system codes for PWR, and BWR and VVER reactors

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Langenbuch, S.; Velkov, K. [GRS, Garching (Germany); Lizorkin, M. [Kurchatov-Institute, Moscow (Russian Federation)] [and others

1997-07-01

This paper describes the objectives of code development for coupling 3D neutronics codes with thermal-hydraulic system codes. The present status of coupling ATHLET with three 3D neutronics codes for VVER- and LWR-reactors is presented. After describing the basic features of the 3D neutronic codes BIPR-8 from Kurchatov-Institute, DYN3D from Research Center Rossendorf and QUABOX/CUBBOX from GRS, first applications of coupled codes for different transient and accident scenarios are presented. The need of further investigations is discussed.

Modernizing the VVER-440/230

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mink, F.J.

1991-01-01

The modernization of the VVER-440/230s is not fundamentally different from backfit projects on older pressurized water reactors which Westinghouse has completed elsewhere. However, carrying out such programmes only makes sense if the plants are expected to continue operation for their projected life or beyond. This clearly requires some licensing and political stability; both are essential if investors in the upgrading project are to be found. (author)

A new reactor core monitoring system. First experience gained at the Dukovany NPP

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Pecka, M.; Svarny, J.; Kment, J.

2001-01-01

The article deals with methods of interpretation of in-core measurements that are based on the determination of the three-dimensional (3D) power distribution within the reactor core, discusses on-line mode calculations, and describes the results obtained during the trial operation of the new SCORPIO-VVER reactor core monitoring system. The principles of the method of determination of the fuel assembly subchannel parameters are outlined. Alternative methods of self-powered detector signal conversion to local power are given, and some results of their testing are presented. Emphasis is put on self-powered detectors supplied by the US firm IST, which were first deployed at the Dukovany NPP in 1998. The predictive function of the SCORPIO-VVER system, whose implementation was inspired by favourable experience gained on some PWR reactors (such as the products of the Halden reactor project at Ringhals and Sizewell B) were adapted to the specific needs of WWER-440 reactors. The main results of validation of the functions are described and presented in detail. (author)

On detection of the possible use of VVERs for unreported production of plutonium. Final report for the period July 1988 - December 1989

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Simov, R.; Nelov, N.; Stoyanova, I.; Kovachev, N.; Yonchev, P.

1989-01-01

The study includes an analysis of the feasibility of unreported production of plutonium-239 in VVER-440 reactors. It is shown that for VVER-440 reactors 36 natural uranium oxide fuel assemblies in the peripheral region of the core need to be loaded to produce 8 kg of extra plutonium in one cycle. Substituting the peripheral fuel assemblies with natural uranium oxide fuel assemblies, the changes in the power peaking are negligible and do not affect reactor safety. Unreported production outside the core is not practical due to physical and mechanical constraints, low flux level, etc. The feasibility of unreported removal of irradiated material in spent fuel cask has been also assessed. After about a month cooling time, still within the refueling period, the irradiated natural uranium fuel assemblies could be removed off-site without significant health hazard to the workers. To improve the effectiveness of the safeguards objectives, additional inspection activities are suggested. 10 figs

Performance of water cooled nuclear power reactor fuels in India – Defects, failures and their mitigation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ganguly, Chaitanyamoy

2015-01-01

Water cooled and moderated nuclear power reactors account for more than 95% of the operating reactors in the world today. Light water reactors (LWRs) consisting of pressurized water reactor (PWR), their Russian counterpart namely VVER and boiling water reactor (BWR) will continue to dominate the nuclear power market. Pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR), also known as CANDU, is the backbone of the nuclear power program in India. Updates on LWR and PHWR fuel performance are being periodically published by IAEA, OECD-NEA and the World Nuclear Association (WNA), highlighting fuel failure rate and the mitigation of fuel defects and failures. These reports clearly indicate that there has been significant improvement in in – pile fuel performance over the years and the present focus is to achieve zero fuel failure in high burn up and high performance fuels. The present paper summarizes the status of PHWR and LWR fuel performance in India, highlighting the manufacturing and the related quality control and inspection steps that are being followed at the PHWR fuel fabrication plant in order to achieve zero manufacturing defect which could contribute to achieving zero in – pile failure rate in operating and upcoming PHWR units in India. (author)

Supply of appropriate nuclear technology for the developing world: small power reactors for electricity generation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Heising-Goodman, C.D.

1981-01-01

This paper reviews the supply of small nuclear power plants (200 to 500 MWe electrical generating capacity) available on today's market, including the pre-fabricated designs of the United Kingdom's Rolls Royce Ltd and the French Alsthom-Atlantique Company. Also, the Russian VVER-440 conventionally built light-water reactor design is reviewed, including information on the Soviet Union's plans for expansion of its reactor-building capacity. A section of the paper also explores the characteristics of LDC electricity grids, reviewing methods available for incorporating larger plants into smaller grids as the Israelis are planning. Future trends in reactor supply and effects on proliferation rates are also discussed, reviewing the potential of the Indian 220 MWe pressurised heavy-water reactor, South Korean and Jananese potential for reactor exports in the Far East, and the Argentine-Brazilian nuclear programme in Latin America. This study suggests that small reactor designs for electrical power production and other applications, such as seawater desalination, can be made economical relative to diesel technology if traditional scaling laws can be altered by adopting and standardising a pre-fabricated nuclear power plant design. Also, economy can be gained if sufficient attention is concentrated on the design, construction and operating experience of suitably sized conventionally built reactor systems. (author)

Validation matrix for the assessment of thermal-hydraulic codes for VVER LOCA and transients. A report by the OECD support group on the VVER thermal-hydraulic code validation matrix

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

2001-06-01

This report deals with an internationally agreed experimental test facility matrix for the validation of best estimate thermal-hydraulic computer codes applied for the analysis of VVER reactor primary systems in accident and transient conditions. Firstly, the main physical phenomena that occur during the considered accidents are identified, test types are specified, and test facilities that supplement the CSNI CCVMs and are suitable for reproducing these aspects are selected. Secondly, a list of selected experiments carried out in these facilities has been set down. The criteria to achieve the objectives are outlined. The construction of VVER Thermal-Hydraulic Code Validation Matrix follows the logic of the CSNI Code Validation Matrices (CCVM). Similar to the CCVM it is an attempt to collect together in a systematic way the best sets of available test data for VVER specific code validation, assessment and improvement, including quantitative assessment of uncertainties in the modelling of phenomena by the codes. In addition to this objective, it is an attempt to record information which has been generated in countries operating VVER reactors over the last 20 years so that it is more accessible to present and future workers in that field than would otherwise be the case. (authors)

SCORPIO-VVER core monitoring and surveillance system with advanced capabilities

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Molnar, Jozef; Vocka, Radim

2010-01-01

The SCORPIO (SCORPIO-VVER) core monitoring system, its basic features and history of implementation at Czech NPPs are described. The most important improvements in the area of neutron physics, core thermal analysis and operation support are as follows: Moving to the 42 axial nodes across the whole system (2004); Implementation of new cross section library to support mixed reactor core with differences in axial geometry of used fuel types and enhancement of Core Simulator boundary conditions model, to properly address the 'wild' geometry in axial direction; Adjusting the thermohydraulic and neutron-physical models regarding to the Gd2 fuel needs; Support up to 5 types of FAs and 2 types of SPND (Posit, IST); Extension of form functions for pin-wise reconstruction to improve pin-power prediction in control rod coupler region; System adaptation to the new upgraded digital I and C unit system; Integration of the SCORPIO-VVER system and its workstation into the plant redundant in-core system; Implementation of new On-Line form function generation to module RECON; New design of the Strategy Generator with advanced predictions; Adaptation of the system to support the new up-rated reactor thermal power; Adding new online SDM calculation function into to system; Implementation of the new 3D power reconstruction with SPND interpretation; Extending the limit checking to the 'full core' checking. The control of margins to the technical specification: Extended to full core - all FA is controlled individually in core; The limits are definable up to 59 FA (1/6 symmetry); 4 limited parameters are controlled - Kr, qlin, Tout-fa, dTfa; 2 additional parameters are monitored - dTsat, DNBR; New MMI are developed to present the limited and controlled parameters in core. Upgrade 3 is planned for the Slovak Bohunice NPP in 2011-2012. (P.A.)

MOCA, Criticality of VVER Reactor Hexagonal Fuel Assemblies

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

KYNCL, Jan

1994-01-01

1 - Description of program or function: Criticality problem in neutron transport for hexagonal fuel assembly in VVER nuclear reactor. The assembly is assumed to be either arranged in an infinite hexagonal array or placed in vacuum. The problem is solved in three- dimensional geometry, using standard energy group formalism and assuming that effective scattering cross sections are presented as Legendre polynomial expansions. The code evaluates ten different physical quantities, e.g. multiplication factor, neutron flux per energy group and spatial zone, integrated over angle and power in any zone of the assembly. 2 - Method of solution: Monte Carlo method of successive generations is applied. Computation proceeds according to an analog random process. The code is organized into three blocks: In the first block, the input data are converted to quantities for use in the Monte Carlo calculation. An initial neutron distribution is calculated, which corresponds to a fission spectrum uniform in spatial and angular variables. The main calculations are carried out in the second block (subroutine PROC2). This block is subdivided into geometrical and physical parts. Neutron tracks in individual zones and groups as well as probabilities for the formation of secondary neutrons are calculated. In the third block (subroutine PROC3), the results are evaluated statistically. Effective multiplication coefficients, the neutron flux per group and zone, and respective errors are computed. These quantities serve as a basis for the evaluation of other quantities. The results are either printed or stored for future evaluations. 3 - Restrictions on the complexity of the problem: In the PC version of the program, the maximum number of neutrons is 1000, the maximum number of energy groups is 4, and the maximum number of material compositions is 15. Angular expansion of scattering cross sections is allowed up to P10. These restrictions can easily be removed by increasing input parameters and

Comparisons with measured data of the simulated local core parameters by the coupled code ATHLET-BIPR-VVER applying a new enhanced model of the reactor pressure vessel

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nikonov, S.; Pasichnyk, I.; Velkov, K.; Pautz, A.

2011-01-01

The paper describes the performed comparisons of measured and simulated local core data based on the OECD/NEA Benchmark on Kalinin-3 NPP: 'Switching off of one of the four operating main circulation pumps at nominal reactor power'. The local measurements of in core self-powered neutron detectors (SPND) in 64 fuel assemblies on 7 axial levels are used for the comparisons of the assemblies axial power distributions and the thermocouples readings at 93 fuel assembly heads are applied for the fuel assembly coolant temperature comparisons. The analyses are done on the base of benchmark transient calculations performed with the coupled system code ATHLET/BIPR-VVER. In order to describe more realistically the fluid mixing phenomena in a reactor pressure vessel a new enhanced nodalization scheme is being developed. It could take into account asymmetric flow behaviour in the reactor pressure vessel structures like downcomer, reactor core inlet and outlet, control rods' guided tubes, support grids etc. For this purpose details of the core geometry are modelled. About 58000 control volumes and junctions are applied. Cross connection are used to describe the interaction between the fluid objects. The performed comparisons are of great interest because they show some advantages by performing coupled code production pseudo-3D analysis of NPPs applying the parallel thermo-hydraulic channel methodology (or 1D thermo-hydraulic system code modeling). (Authors)

Development of an automated system of nuclear materials accounting for nuclear power stations with water-cooled, water-moderated reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Babaev, N.S.

1981-06-01

The results of work carried out under IAEA Contract No. 2336/RB are described (subject: an automated system of nuclear materials accounting for nuclear power stations with water-cooled, water-moderated (VVER) reactors). The basic principles of an accounting system for this type of nuclear power plant are outlined. The general structure and individual units of the information computer program used to achieve automated accounting are described and instructions are given on the use of the program. A detailed example of its application (on a simulated nuclear power plant) is examined

Examination of VVER-1000 Reactor Pressure Vessel

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Matokovic, A.; Picek, E.; Markulin, K.

2008-01-01

The increasing demand of a higher level of safety in the operation of the nuclear power plants requires the utilisation of more precise automated equipment to perform in-service inspections. That has been achieved by technological advances in computer technology, in robotics, in examination probe technology with the development of the advanced inspection technique and has also been due to the considerable and varied experience gained in the performance of such inspections. In-service inspection of reactor pressure vessel, especially Russian-designed WWER-1000 presents one of the most important and extensive examination of nuclear power plants primary circuit components. Such examination demand high standards of inspection technology, quality and continual innovation in the field of non-destructive testing advanced technology. A remote underwater contact ultrasonic technique is employed for the examination of the base metal of vessel and reactor welds, whence eddy current method is applied for clad surface examinations. Visual testing is used for examination of the vessel interior. The movement of inspection probes and data positioning are assured by using new reactor pressure vessel tool concept that is fully integrated with inspection systems. The successful performance of reactor pressure vessel is attributed thorough pre-outage planning, training and successful performance demonstration qualification of chosen non-destructive techniques on the specimens with artificial and/or real defects. Furthermore, use of advanced approach of inspection through implementation the state-of-the-art examination equipment significantly reduced the inspection time, radiation exposure to examination personnel, shortening nuclear power plant outage and cutting the total inspection costs. This paper presents advanced approach in the reactor pressure vessel in-service inspections and it is especially developed for WWER-1000 nuclear power plants.(author)

Department of Energy's team's analyses of Soviet designed VVERs (water-cooled water-moderated atomic energy reactors)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

1989-09-01

This document contains apprendices A through P of this report. Topics discussed are: a cronyms and technical terms, accident analyses reactivity control; Soviet safety regulations; radionuclide inventory; decay heat; operations and maintenance; steam supply system; concrete and concrete structures; seismicity; site information; neutronic parameters; loss of electric power; diesel generator reliability; Soviet codes and standards; and comparisons of PWR and VVER features. (FI)

Investigation of accident management procedures related to loss of feedwater and station blackout in PSB-VVER integral test facility

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Bucalossi, A. [EC JRC, (JRC F.5) PO Box 2, 1755 ZG Petten (Netherlands); Del Nevo, A., E-mail: alessandro.delnevo@enea.it [ENEA, C.R. Brasimone, 40032 Camugnano (Italy); Moretti, F.; D' Auria, F. [GRNSPG, Universita di Pisa, via Diotisalvi 2, 56100 Pisa (Italy); Elkin, I.V.; Melikhov, O.I. [Electrogorsk Research and Engineering Centre, Electrogorsk, Moscow Region (Russian Federation)

2012-09-15

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Four integral test facility experiments related to VVER-1000 reactor. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer TH response of the VVER-1000 primary system following total loss of feedwater and station blackout scenarios. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Accident management procedures in case of total loss of feedwater and station blackout. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Experimental data represent an improvement of existing database for TH code validation. - Abstract: VVER 1000 reactors have some unique and specific features (e.g. large primary and secondary side fluid inventory, horizontal steam generators, core design) that require dedicated experimental and analytical analyses in order to assess the performance of safety systems and the effectiveness of possible accident management strategies. The European Commission funded project 'TACIS 2.03/97', Part A, provided valuable experimental data from the large-scale (1:300) PSB-VVER test facility, investigating accident management procedures in VVER-1000 reactor. A test matrix was developed at University of Pisa (responsible of the project) with the objective of obtaining the experimental data not covered by the OECD VVER validation matrix and with main focus on accident management procedures. Scenarios related to total loss of feed water and station blackout are investigated by means of four experiments accounting for different countermeasures, based on secondary cooling strategies and primary feed and bleed procedures. The transients are analyzed thoroughly focusing on the identification of phenomena that will challenge the code models during the simulations.

Innovative instrumentation for VVERs based in non-invasive techniques

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Jeanneau, H.; Favennec, J.M.; Tournu, E.; Germain, J.L.

2000-01-01

Nuclear power plants such as VVERs can greatly benefit from innovative instrumentation to improve plant safety and efficiency. In recent years innovative instrumentation has been developed for PWRs with the aim of providing additional measurements of physical parameters on the primary and secondary circuits: the addition of new instrumentation is made possible by using non-invasive techniques such as ultrasonics and radiation detection. These innovations can be adapted for upgrading VVERs presently in operation and also in future VVERs. The following innovative instrumentation for the control, monitoring or testing at VVERs is described: 1. instrumentation for more accurate primary side direct measurements (for a better monitoring of the primary circuit); 2. instrumentation to monitor radioactivity leaks (for a safer plant); 3. instrumentation-related systems to improve the plant efficiency (for a cheaper kWh)

In-core nuclear fuel management optimization of VVER1000 using perturbation theory

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hosseini, Mohammad; Vosoughi, Naser

2011-01-01

In-core nuclear fuel management is one of the most important concerns in the design of nuclear reactors. The two main goals in core fuel loading pattern design optimization are maximizing the core effective multiplication factor in order to extract the maximum energy, and keeping the local power peaking factor lower than a predetermined value to maintain fuel integrity. Because of the numerous possible patterns of the fuel assemblies in the reactor core, finding the best configuration is so important and complex. Different methods for optimization of fuel loading pattern in the core have been introduced so far. In this study, a software is programmed in C ⧣ language to find an order of the fuel loading pattern of the VVER-1000 reactor core using the perturbation theory. Our optimization method is based on minimizing the radial power peaking factor. The optimization process lunches by considering the initial loading pattern and the specifications of the fuel assemblies which are given as the input of the software. It shall be noticed that the designed algorithm is performed by just shuffling the fuel assemblies. The obtained results by employing the mentioned method on a typical reactor reveal that this method has a high precision in achieving a pattern with an allowable radial power peaking factor. (author)

Optimization of fuel core loading pattern design in a VVER nuclear power reactors using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Babazadeh, Davood; Boroushaki, Mehrdad; Lucas, Caro

2009-01-01

The two main goals in core fuel loading pattern design optimization are maximizing the core effective multiplication factor (K eff ) in order to extract the maximum energy, and keeping the local power peaking factor (P q ) lower than a predetermined value to maintain fuel integrity. In this research, a new strategy based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm has been developed to optimize the fuel core loading pattern in a typical VVER. The PSO algorithm presents a simple social model by inspiration from bird collective behavior in finding food. A modified version of PSO algorithm for discrete variables has been developed and implemented successfully for the multi-objective optimization of fuel loading pattern design with constraints of keeping P q lower than a predetermined value and maximizing K eff . This strategy has been accomplished using WIMSD and CITATION calculation codes. Simulation results show that this algorithm can help in the acquisition of a new pattern without contravention of the constraints.

Experimental support of the bleed and feed accident management measures for VVER-440/213 type reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Szabados, L.

2002-01-01

In the original design of the VVER-440/213 type nuclear power plants event oriented emergency operating procedures (EOP) were implemented. In the last years, however, new symptom based procedures of Westinghouse-type have been developed and partly implemented for the plants in Central Europe including the Paks Nuclear Power Plant. Paper gives a short review of the experiments performed in the PMK-2 facility to study the effectiveness of the bleed and feed strategies and to get experimental data bases for the validation of thermohydraulic system codes like RELAP5, ATHLET and CATHARE.(author)

Modelling and analysis of severe accidents for VVER-1000 reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tusheva, Polina

2012-01-01

Accident conditions involving significant core degradation are termed severe accidents /IAEA: NS-G-2.15/. Despite the low probability of occurrence of such events, the investigation of severe accident scenarios is an important part of the nuclear safety research. Considering a hypothetical core melt down scenario in a VVER-1000 light water reactor, the early in-vessel phase focusing on the thermal-hydraulic phenomena, and the late in-vessel phase focusing on the melt relocation into the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) lower head, are investigated. The objective of this work is the assessment of severe accident management procedures for VVER-1000 reactors, i.e. the estimation of the maximum period of time available for taking appropriate measures and particular decisions by the plant personnel. During high pressure severe accident sequences it is of prime importance to depressurize the primary circuit in order to allow for effective injection from the emergency core cooling systems and to avoid reactor pressure vessel failure at high pressure that could cause direct containment heating and subsequent challenge to the containment structure. Therefore different accident management measures were investigated for the in-vessel phase of a hypothetical station blackout accident using the severe accident code ASTEC, the mechanistic code ATHLET and the multi-purpose code system ANSYS. The analyses performed on the PHEBUS ISP-46 experiment, as well as simulations of small break loss of coolant accident and station blackout scenarios were used to contribute to the validation and improvement of the integral severe accident code ASTEC. Investigations on the applicability and the effectiveness of accident management procedures in the preventive domain, as well as detailed analyses on the thermal-hydraulic phenomena during the early in-vessel phase of a station blackout accident have been performed with the mechanistic code ATHLET. The results of the simulations show, that the

Primary LOCA in VVER-1000 by pressurizer PORV failure

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sabotinov, L.; Lutsanych, S.; Kadenko, I.

2013-01-01

The paper presents the calculations and analysis of the design basis accident of a standard VVER-1000/V320 reactor with inadvertent opening and stuck in open position of the pressurizer pilot operated relief valve (PORV). The objective is the independent assessment of this accident applying the French best estimate thermal-hydraulic computer code CATHARE 2 and verification to meet the safety criteria for such kind of the accident. The 'Inadvertent opening and stuck in open position of PORV' is a design basis accident classified as Medium Break Loss of Coolant Accident (MB LOCA) with the equivalent diameter of the break D- 68 mm. This accident is particularly interesting to be calculated and analyzed, because it took place at operating NPP with VVER-1000 reactors (Rovno NPP) in 2009. The calculations have been carried out with conservative conditions as usual for DBA analysis. The NPP model corresponds to a real VVER-1000/V320 configuration and comprises all safety systems, adopted for one of the latest CATHARE 2 versions. The results of CATHARE 2 calculations are compared with available results of RELAP5 calculations. There is similarity of the thermal-hydraulic parameters behavior, but also some differences can be observed basically due to the break flow prediction, which causes differences in primary pressure evaluation. Both calculations show that there is no boiling crisis in the reactor core and reliable cooldown is achieved. The calculations performed with CATHARE2 code demonstrate the ability of the code to predict reasonably the break flow, pressures, temperatures etc. for considered LOCA scenario and to be applied for safety studies

Main results of post-irradiation examinations of new-generation fuel assemblies VVER-1000

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zvir, E.; Markov, D.; Polenok, V.; Zhitelev, V.; Kobylyansky, G.

2009-01-01

To increase the competitiveness of Russian nuclear fuel at the foreign market and to improve its technical and economic performance in order to provide a necessary level of safety, it is necessary to solve certain important tasks: Increase of fuel burn-up; Extension of operational lifetime of fuel assemblies and operational reliability of nuclear fuel; Introduction of cost-beneficial and flexible fuel cycles. Alternative fuel assemblies TVSA VVER-1000 and TVS-2 are used as a basis to optimize the nuclear fuel and develop advanced fuel cycles for nuclear power plants with VVER-1000 reactor types. Four fuel assemblies TVSA operated during 1 and up to 6 reactor cycles, reference fuel assembly TVS-2 operated during three reactor cycles and achieved an average fuel burnup of 48MW·day/kgU as well as failed fuel assembly TVS-2 operated during one cycle were examined at RIAR in recent years. The main objectives of these examinations were to obtain experimental data in support of operational integrity of products or to find out reasons of their failure. The performed post-irradiation examinations confirmed the operational integrity of alternative fuel assemblies TVSA including their geometrical stability up to the average fuel burnup of 55 MW·day/kgU over the fuel assembly (FA) (up to the maximal fuel burnup of ∼73 MW·day/kgU in fuel rods) and of TVS-2 up to the average fuel burnup of 48 MW·day/kgU over the fuel assembly. The changes introduced in the design of VVER-1000 fuel assembly during the development of alternative fuel assembly TVSA and TVS-2 did not make any negative effect on fuel rods. It was proved that causes of fuel rod failure were not related to design features of fuel assemblies. The design features and operating conditions of fuel assemblies under examinations are briefly described. Post-irradiation examinations proved the geometrical stability of fuel assemblies TVSA and TVS-2 under operation up to the fuel burnup of ∼50 MW day/kgU, as for the

Investigation on accident management measures for VVER-1000 reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tusheva, P.; Schaefer, F.; Rohde, U.; Reinke, N.

2009-01-01

A consequence of a total loss of AC power supply (station blackout) leading to unavailability of major active safety systems which could not perform their safety functions is that the safety criteria ensuring a secure operation of the nuclear power plant would be violated and a consequent core heat-up with possible core degradation would occur. Currently, a study which examines the thermal-hydraulic behaviour of the plant during the early phase of the scenario is being performed. This paper focuses on the possibilities for delay or mitigation of the accident sequence to progress into a severe one by applying Accident Management Measures (AMM). The strategy 'Primary circuit depressurization' as a basic strategy, which is realized in the management of severe accidents is being investigated. By reducing the load over the vessel under severe accident conditions, prerequisites for maintaining the integrity of the primary circuit are being created. The time-margins for operators' intervention as key issues are being also assessed. The task is accomplished by applying the GRS thermal-hydraulic system code ATHLET. In addition, a comparative analysis of the accident progression for a station blackout event for both a reference German PWR and a reference VVER-1000, taking into account the plant specifics, is being performed. (authors)

Dosimetry of VVER-1000 Reactor Pressure Vessel and Surveillance Specimens as a part of PLiM at Ukrainian NPPs

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bukanov, V.N.; Diemokhin, V.L.; Grytsenko, O.V.; Ilkovych, V.V.; Pugach, A.M.; Pugach, S.M.; Vasylieva, O.G.; Vyshnevskyi, I.M.; Kasatkin, O.G.

2012-01-01

A regular surveillance program for VVER-1000 and its shortages are described. The Methodology for determination of neutron flux functionals on surveillance specimens of VVER-1000 pressure vessel is presented. The radiation exposure monitoring system for VVER-1000 pressure vessel is described. The main principles of an additional surveillance program for VVER-1000 are presented. The Dosimetry Experiment, which is already carrying out at Unit 3 of Rivne NPP, is described. (author)

Nuclear power in the Ukraine: Problems and prospects

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nigmatullin, N.R.

1995-01-01

Nuclear power production in the Ukraine started in 1977 with the startup of the first 1000-MW power-generating unit at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. During the period from 1977 to 1989 sixteen power-generating units with a total electric capacity of 14,880 MW were put into operation at five nuclear power plants: ten VVER-1000, two VVER-440, and four RBMK-1000. As a result of the accident in 1986 in the fourth power-generating unit and the fire in 1991 in the second power-generating unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, these units are no longer operating. Therefore the total installed nuclear power plant capacity is 12,880 MW. Moreover, the construction of three more power-generating units with VVER-1000 reactors is almost completed at three nuclear power plants - Zaporozh'e, Roven, and Khmel'nitsk. These units are not in operation because of the moratorium announced by the Supreme Council of Ukraine. In connection with the Council's decision, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant should have been shut down in 1993

Qualification of the core model DYN3D coupled with the code ATHLET as an advanced tool for the accident analysis of VVER type reactors. Pt. 2. Final report

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Grundmann, U.; Kliem, S.; Rohde, U.

2002-10-01

Benchmark calculations for the validation of the coupled neutron kinetics/thermohydraulic code complex DYN3D-ATHLET are described. Two benchmark problems concerning hypothetical accident scenarios with leaks in the steam system for a VVER-440 type reactor and the TMI-1 PWR have been solved. The first benchmark task has been defined by FZR in the frame of the international association 'Atomic Energy Research' (AER), the second exercise has been organized under the auspices of the OECD. While in the first benchmark the break of the main steam collector in the sub-critical hot zero power state of the reactor was considered, the break of one of the two main steam lines at full reactor power was assumed in the OECD benchmark. Therefore, in this exercise the mixing of the coolant from the intact and the defect loops had to be considered, while in the AER benchmark the steam collector break causes a homogeneous overcooling of the primary circuit. In the AER benchmark, each participant had to use its own macroscopic cross section libraries. In the OECD benchmark, the cross sections were given in the benchmark definition. The main task of both benchmark problems was to analyse the re-criticality of the scrammed reactor due to the overcooling. For both benchmark problems, a good agreement of the DYN3D-ATHLET solution with the results of other codes was achieved. Differences in the time of re-criticality and the height of the power peak between various solutions of the AER benchmark can be explained by the use of different cross section data. Significant differences in the thermohydraulic parameters (coolant temperature, pressure) occurred only at the late stage of the transient during the emergency injection of highly borated water. In the OECD benchmark, a broader scattering of the thermohydraulic results can be observed, while a good agreement between the various 3D reactor core calculations with given thermohydraulic boundary conditions was achieved. Reasons for the

Greifswald and Rheinsberg: East European VVERs with a new mission

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sterner, H.; Leushacke, D.; Rittscher, D.

1995-01-01

Plans for the decommissioning of the VVER reactors at Greifswald and Rheinsberg in the former German Democratic Republic are described. The decision to decommission the eight VVER-440s (two of which are still under construction) at Greifswald and the Russian prototype PWR, VVER-2, at Rheinsberg, was taken because of a lack of public acceptance and financial considerations. Three main phases are scheduled for the project. The first, the post-operation phase, has already commenced at both sites. It involves: the operation of all systems needed safely to store fuel elements, to remove them and to condition operational waste; dismantling of mainly inactive, systems not needed for fuel handling; and system decontamination. The second phase comprises the dismantling of contaminated systems, remote dismantling and conditioning of the dismantled material. Finally, in the site restoration phase, following the dismantling of remaining systems and building decontamination and demolition, the site will be adapted for other uses. Three projects for new site use at Greifswald being pursued. As a first step, an international Technology Centre is to be created to collect and evaluate information on decommissioning experience. The centre will require international financial support and co-ordination. New facilities are already being constructed to deal with decontamination of dismantled materials and the interim storage of radioactive waste and reactor fuel. (UK)

A 25% double-ended LOCA in the PSB-VVER facility

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Blinkov, V.N.; Lipatov, I.A.; Dremin, G.I.

2003-01-01

The paper presents the results of the experimental investigation in the PSB-VVER facility and post-test analysis with RELAP5/MOD3.3 of the thermal-hydraulic response of the PSB-VVER to a 25% double-ended Hot Leg Break (HLB). The test scenario included loss of off-site power concurrently with the scram-signal and the safety system operation as described in the reference VVER-1000 operational manual in the case of this type of accident assuming one diesel-generator failure. The key transient parameter trends as well as sequence of events and phenomena are given in the paper. RELAP5/MOD3.3 a post-test analysis has been performed using the experimental data gained as a base. The reasonable qualitative agreement between the key calculated and measured variables has been shown. The quantitative code accuracy evaluation has shown that the total average amplitude of the main parameters' deviations AA tot tot < 0.28 that corresponds to satisfactory quality of the VVER-1000 hot leg guillotine break LOCA modeling in the PSB-VVER. (author)

Proposal of criteria for evaluation of engineering safety factors of VVER core parameters

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Shishkov, L.; Tsyganov, S.; Dementiev, V.

2009-01-01

The paper states that the regulatory documentation, as a rule, do not give explicit recommendations on formation techniques of engineering safety factors for design limited parameters of normal operation (K eng ). The AER countries use different approaches to K eng evaluation (sometimes even one country in relation of various power units). The paper suggests the development of uniform rules to be used in calculation of engineering safety factor for all VVER reactors. The paper presents principal problems that must be solved in the course of the discussion, and in the form of an exercise suggests the way of their solution. (authors)

Thermal-hydraulic modeling of nanofluids as the coolant in VVER-1000 reactor core by the porous media approach

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Jahanfarnia, G.; Zarifi, E.; Veysi, F.

2013-01-01

The aim of this study was to perform a thermal-hydraulic analysis of nanofluids as coolant in the Bushehr VVER-1000 reactor core using the porous media approach. Water-based nanofluids containing various volume fractions of Al 2 O 3 and TiO 2 nanoparticles were analyzed. The conservation equations were discretized by the finite volume method and solved by numerical methods. To validate the approaches applied in this study, the results of the model and COBRA-EN code were compared for pure water. The achieved results show that the temperature of the coolant increases with the concentration of the nanoparticles. (authors)

IVO participation in IAEA benchmark for VVER-type nuclear power plants seismic analysis and testing

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Varpasuo, P.

1997-12-01

This study is a part of the IAEA coordinated research program 'Benchmark study for the Seismic Analysis and Testing of VVER Type NPPs'. The study reports the numerical simulation of the blast test for Paks and Kozloduy nuclear power plants beginning from the recorded free-field response and computing the structural response at various points inside the reactor building. The full-scale blast tests of the Paks and Kozloduy NPPs took place in December 1994 and in July 1996. During the tests the plants operated normally. The instrumentation for the tests consisted of 52 recording channels with 200 Hz sampling rate. Detonating 100 kg charges in 50-meter deep boreholes at 2.5-km distance from the plant carried out the blast tests. The 3D structural models for both reactor buildings were analyzed in the frequency domain. The number of modes extracted in both cases was about 500 and the cut-off frequency was 25 Hz. In the response history run the responses of the selected points were evaluated. The input values for response history run were the three components of the excitation, which were transformed from time domain to the frequency domain with the aid of Fourier transform. The analysis was carried out in frequency domain and responses were transferred back to time domain with inverse Fourier transform. The Paks and Kozloduy blast tests produced a wealth of information on the behavior of the nuclear power plant structures excited by blast type loads containing also the low frequency wave train if albeit with small energy content. The comparison of measured and calculated results gave information about the suitability of the selected analysis approach for the investigated blast type loading

Meeting the physics design challenges of modern LWRs being inducted into the Indian nuclear power programme

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Jagannathan, V.; Pal, Usha; Karthikeyan, R.; Raj, Devesh; Srivastava, Argala; Khan, Suhail Ahmad

2007-01-01

Indian nuclear power programme started with the two Boiling Water Reactors (BWR) of 210 MWe capacity at Tarapur. Two VVER-1000 MWe reactors which are Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR) of Russian design are being constructed at Kudankulam, Tamilnadu and are expected to be commissioned by end 2008. There may be also a possibility of inducting some western PWRs in future. These reactors belong to the category of light water reactors (LWR). The LWRs are compact and have complex physical characteristics distinctly different from those of the Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) which, currently form the mainstay of our indigenous nuclear power programme. The physics design and analysis capability for the modern LWRs (BWR, PWR and VVER) has been developed at Light Water Reactors Physics Section, BARC. This paper presents the current state of art in this key technology area to meet the physics design and operation challenges when LWRs would be inducted in a major way into the Indian nuclear power programme and commence operating in the coming decades. (author)

Analysis of changes in the fuel component of the cost of electricity in the transition to a closed fuel cycle in nuclear power system

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gurin, Andrey V.; Alekseev, P.N.

2017-01-01

This paper presents a study of scenarios of transition to a closed fuel cycle in the system of nuclear power, built basing on resource availability requirements at the stage of full life-cycle reactors. Conventionally, there are three main scenarios for the development of nuclear energy: with VVER reactors operating in an open fuel cycle; with VVER reactors operating in a closed fuel cycle; and co-operating VVER and BN, operating in a closed fuel cycle. For the considered scenarios, a quantitative estimation of change in time of material balances were performed, including spent fuel balance, balance of plutonium, reprocessed and depleted uranium, radioactive waste, and the analysis of the fuel component of the cost of electricity.

Analysis of changes in the fuel component of the cost of electricity in the transition to a closed fuel cycle in nuclear power system

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Gurin, Andrey V. [National Research Centre ' ' Kurchatov Institute' ' , Moscow (Russian Federation); Alekseev, P.N.

2017-09-15

This paper presents a study of scenarios of transition to a closed fuel cycle in the system of nuclear power, built basing on resource availability requirements at the stage of full life-cycle reactors. Conventionally, there are three main scenarios for the development of nuclear energy: with VVER reactors operating in an open fuel cycle; with VVER reactors operating in a closed fuel cycle; and co-operating VVER and BN, operating in a closed fuel cycle. For the considered scenarios, a quantitative estimation of change in time of material balances were performed, including spent fuel balance, balance of plutonium, reprocessed and depleted uranium, radioactive waste, and the analysis of the fuel component of the cost of electricity.

Core designs of modern VVER projects

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Vasilchenko, I.; Kushmanov, S.; Vjalitsyn, V.; Vasilchenko, R.

2015-01-01

The presented operational experience of TVS - 2M (pilot-commercial operation started in 2006 at Balakovo NPP -1) enables to use it as reference for new projects because of similarity in designs and operational conditions. In the paper main parameters of fuel cycles, stability to impact of damaging factors, pilot operation of MG, new alloys, ADF and NTMC, upgrade of FA - 2M for the further power uprating, profiling of Gd-fuel rods for 18-month Fuel Cycle (FC) and perfection of absorber element design are the discussed issues. At the end author concluded that: 1) Core designs of new projects AES-2006 and VVER-TOI are based on extensive successful operational experience of the close prototype of TVS - 2M. 2) All improvements both of technical and economic parameters of fuel are subjected to representative examination by pilot operation at the power units with VVER-1000 being close prototypes of new designs

Phase and structural transformations in VVER-440 RPV base metal after long-term operation and recovery annealing

Science.gov (United States)

Kuleshova, E. A.; Gurovich, B. A.; Maltsev, D. A.; Frolov, A. S.; Bukina, Z. V.; Fedotova, S. V.; Saltykov, M. A.; Krikun, E. V.; Erak, D. Yu; Zhurko, D. A.; Safonov, D. V.; Zhuchkov, G. M.

2018-04-01

This study was carried out to evaluate the possibility of 1st generation VVER-440 reactors lifetime extension by recovery re-annealing with the respect to base metal (BM). Comprehensive studies of the structure and properties of BM templates (samples cut from the inner surface of the shells in beltline region) of operating VVER-440 reactor (after primary standard recovery annealing 475 °C/150 h and subsequent long-term re-irradiation within reactor pressure vessel (RPV)) were conducted. These templates were also subjected to laboratory re-annealing 475 °C/150 h. TEM, SEM and APT studies of BM after laboratory re-annealing revealed significant recovery of radiation-induced hardening elements (Cu-rich precipitates and dislocation loops). Simultaneously a process of strong phosphorus accumulation at grain boundaries occurs since annealing temperature corresponds to the maximum reversible temper brittleness development. The latter is not observed for VVER-440 weld metal (WM). Comparative assessment of the properties return level for the beltline BM templates after recovery re-annealing 475 °C/150 h showed that it does not reach the one typical for beltline WM after the same annealing.

VVER-1000 backfitting programs

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zabka, H.; Milhem, J.L.

1998-01-01

Russia, Ukraine, and Bulgaria have nineteen nuclear generating units of the VVER-1000/V-320 (1000 MWe PWR) type in operation. Most of these plants were built in the eighties. Their design is based on Soviet standards of the seventies. In the early eighties and, in particular, after the Chernobyl accident, new safety principles and supplementary specific standards were introduced. However, they were taken into account only to a limited extent in the design and construction of the VVER-1000/V-320 plants. A number of nuclear power plants, whose construction was stopped after the political changes in the countries of the former USSR, now are to be completed with the financial assistance of the Commission of the European Union and other Western organizations, respectively. This Western support is dependent on the condition that these plants attain a level of engineered safeguards comparable to that of PWR plants currently in operation in Western Europe. (orig.) [de

VVER-1000 RPV Head Examination Control System

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Erak, Z.; Gortan, K.

2006-01-01

This article presents the electronic system used for automated NDT examination of VVER-1000 Reactor Pressure Vessel Head (RPVH). The control system drives the inspection tool with end-effectors to needed position. When the final position is reached, the eddy current and ultra sound acquisition system performs the data acquisition. The system is composed of 3 layers. The first layer is the hardware layer consisting of motors driving the tool and end-effectors along with sensors needed to obtain the positioning data. The second layer is the MAC-8 control system performing basic monitoring and control routines as an interconnection between first and third layer. The third layer is the control software, running on PC, which is used as a human-machine-interface. Presentation contains details of examination techniques with focus on eddy current examination as well as details on manipulator and end effectors developed by Inetec for VVER-1000 RPVH examination.(author)

Analytical validation of operator actions in case of primary to secondary leakage for VVER-1000/V320

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Andreeva, M., E-mail: m_andreeva@inrne.bas.bg; Groudev, P., E-mail: pavlinpg@inrne.bas.bg; Pavlova, M., E-mail: pavlova@inrne.bas.bg

2015-12-15

Highlights: • We validate operator actions in case of primary to secondary leakage. • We perform four scenarios related to SGTR accident for VVER-1000/V320. • The reference power plant for the analyses is Unit 6 at Kozloduy NPP. • The RELAP5/MOD 3.2 computer code is used in performing the analyses. • The analyses confirm the effectiveness of operator actions during PRISE. - Abstract: This paper presents the results of analytical validation of operator actions in case of “Steam Generator Tube Rupture” (SGTR) for VVER-1000/V320 units at Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP), done during the development of Symptom Based Emergency Operating Procedures (SB EOPs) for this plant. The purpose of the analyses is to demonstrate the ability to terminate primary to secondary leakage and to indicate an effective strategy for preventing secondary leakage to the environment and in this way to prevent radiological release to the environment. Following depressurization and cooldown of reactor coolant system (RCS) with isolation of the affected steam generator (SG), in these analyses are validated options for post-SGTR cooldown by: • back up filling the ruptured SG; • using letdown system in the affected SG and • by opening Fast Acting Isolation Valve (FAIV) and using Steam Dump Facility to the Condenser (BRU-K). The results of the thermal-hydraulic analyses have been used to assist KNPP specialists in analytical validation of EOPs. The RELAP5/MOD3.2 computer code has been used for the analyses in a VVER-1000 Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) model. A model of VVER-1000 based on Unit 6 of Kozloduy NPP has been developed for the thermal-hydraulics code RELAP5/MOD3.2 at the Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (INRNE-BAS). This paper is possible through the participation of leading specialists from KNPP.

Assessment of financial expenditure for Rivne NPP power units decommissioning

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nosovskij, A.V.; Salij, L.M.

2007-01-01

The article covers some financial aspects of developing a decommissioning concept for Rivne NPP power units with reactor VVER-440 and VVER-1000. Possible methodological approaches to costs estimate have been analyzed. Preliminary results of cost estimation are presented for two decommissioning options: deferred and immediate dismantling. Principally possible options for accumulating assets have been analyzed to finance measures related to Rivne NPP decommissioning. A mathematical model has been proposed for creating decommissioning financial reserve

Developing a computational tool for predicting physical parameters of a typical VVER-1000 core based on artificial neural network

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mirvakili, S.M.; Faghihi, F.; Khalafi, H.

2012-01-01

Highlights: ► Thermal–hydraulics parameters of a VVER-1000 core based on neural network (ANN), are carried out. ► Required data for ANN training are found based on modified COBRA-EN code and then linked each other using MATLAB software. ► Based on ANN method, average and maximum temperature of fuel and clad as well as MDNBR of each FA are predicted. -- Abstract: The main goal of the present article is to design a computational tool to predict physical parameters of the VVER-1000 nuclear reactor core based on artificial neural network (ANN), taking into account a detailed physical model of the fuel rods and coolant channels in a fuel assembly. Predictions of thermal characteristics of fuel, clad and coolant are performed using cascade feed forward ANN based on linear fission power distribution and power peaking factors of FAs and hot channels factors (which are found based on our previous neutronic calculations). A software package has been developed to prepare the required data for ANN training which applies a modified COBRA-EN code for sub-channel analysis and links the codes using the MATLAB software. Based on the current estimation system, five main core TH parameters are predicted, which include the average and maximum temperatures of fuel and clad as well as the minimum departure from nucleate boiling ratio (MDNBR) for each FA. To get the best conditions for the considered ANNs training, a comprehensive sensitivity study has been performed to examine the effects of variation of hidden neurons, hidden layers, transfer functions, and the learning algorithms on the training and simulation results. Performance evaluation results show that the developed ANN can be trained to estimate the core TH parameters of a typical VVER-1000 reactor quickly without loss of accuracy.

Assessment of the recovery annealing efficiency for VVER-1000 materials' structure reset and lifetime extension

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gurovich, B.; Kuleshova, E.; Prikhodko, K.; Fedotova, S.

2011-01-01

The results of the VVER-1000 reactor pressure vessels welds studies based on the surveillance specimens sets have revealed a high embrittlement rate of steel with high nickel content compared with predicted embrittlement determined from the Russian Guide. For these critical vessels further safe operation (even during design service life) is not allowed without additional measures (recovery annealing of the VVER-1000 welds as earlier for VVER- 440). The reason is that the rate of high nickel VVER-1000 welds embrittlement is significantly higher than that is for base metal. In order to solve a problem of VVER-1000 lifetime extension recovery annealing validation and accelerated reirradiation of specimens for prolonged operation period estimation after annealing were necessary. In this work comparison of electron-microscopy fine structure studies and fractographic studies of Charpy specimens fracture surface of the VVER-1000 high nickel welds in different states were carried out. It allows estimation of the recovery annealing effect on steels structure and its behavior at further operation. It is shown that both secondary and primary irradiation causes alike radiation-induced fine structure changes: dislocation loops and nano-size precipitates. Recovery annealing leads to full dislocation loops dissolution and significant nano-size precipitates solution but not to the initial values. The rate of radiation defects and radiation-induced precipitates accumulation at reirradiation weld after recovery annealing is lower than at primary irradiation and determine the lower secondary embrittlement rate of VVER-1000 weld. (authors)

OECD/DOE/CEA VVER-1000 Coolant Transient Benchmark. Summary Record of the First Workshop (V1000-CT1)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

2003-01-01

The first workshop for the VVER-1000 Coolant Transient Benchmark TT Benchmark was hosted by the Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, Centre d'Etudes de Saclay, France. The V1000CT benchmark defines standard problems for validation of coupled three-dimensional (3-D) neutron-kinetics/system thermal-hydraulics codes for application to Soviet-designed VVER-1000 reactors using actual plant data without any scaling. The overall objective is to access computer codes used in the safety analysis of VVER power plants, specifically for their use in reactivity transient simulations in a VVER-1000. The V1000CT benchmark consists of two phases: V1000CT-1 - simulation of the switching on of one main coolant pump (MCP) while the other three MCP are in operation, and V1000CT- 2 - calculation of coolant mixing tests and Main Steam Line Break (MSLB) scenario. Further background information on this benchmark can be found at the OECD/NEA benchmark web site . The purpose of the first workshop was to review the benchmark activities after the Starter Meeting held last year in Dresden, Germany: to discuss the participants' feedback and modifications introduced in the Benchmark Specifications on Phase 1; to present and to discuss modelling issues and preliminary results from the three exercises of Phase 1; to discuss the modelling issues of Exercise 1 of Phase 2; and to define work plan and schedule in order to complete the two phases

A phenomenological method of mechanical properties definition of reactor pressure vessels (RPV) steels VVER according to the ball indentation diagram

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bakirov, M. B.; Potapov, V.V.; Massoud, J.P.

2002-01-01

This work presents specimen-free methods of a standard uniaxial tension diagram construction and RPV (reactor pressure vessel) steels VVER strength properties definition out of a continuous ball indentation diagram. A similarity phenomenon of uniaxial tension strain curves at a hardening area and an area of a ball indentation constitutes the ground of the methods. The methods are developed on the basis of the uniform graphic representation of elasto-plastic strain processes by indentation and tension and with the reception of the unified yield curve at a hardening area. The calculation results on the phenomenological method conducted for a wide range of RPV steels conditions of nuclear reactors have shown a good precision as far as strain curves construction by the uniaxial tension out of the elasto-plastic indentation diagram is concerned. (authors)

Three-dimensional neutron kinetics-thermal-hydraulics VVER 1000 main steam line break analysis by RELAP5-3D code

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Frisani, A.; Parisi, C.; D'Auria, F.

2007-01-01

After the development and the assessment of Three-Dimensional (3D) Neutron Kinetics (NK) - 1D Thermal-Hydraulics (TH) coupled codes analyses methods, deterministic nuclear safety technology is nowadays producing noticeable efforts for the validation of 3D NK - 3D TH coupled codes analyses methods too. Thus, the purpose of this work was to address the capability of the RELAP5-3D 3D NK-3D TH code to reproduce VVER 1000 Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) core dynamic in simulating the mixing effects that could happen in the vessel downcomer and lower plenum during some scenarios. The work was developed in three steps. The first step dealt with the 3D TH modeling of the Kozloduy-6 VVER 1000 reactor pressure vessel. Then this model was validated following a Steam Generator Isolation transient. The second step has been the development of a 3D NK nodalization for the reactor core region. Then the 3D NK model was directly coupled with the previously developed 3D TH model. The third step was the calculation of a Main Steam Line Break (MSLB) transient. The 3D NK global nuclear parameters were then compared with the 0-D results showing a good agreement; nevertheless only the 3D NK- 3D TH model allowed the calculation of each single assembly power trend for this strong NK-TH asymmetric transient. (author)

Technology of repair of selected equipment in the power plant type VVER 440

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Barborka, J.; Magula, V.

1998-01-01

This article is divided in two parts: The first part is studying the effect of individual parameters by the usual and pulsed welding of 15CH2MFA steel. It can be concluded that by use of mechanized or automatic TIG process in PC position with addition of a cold wire with high nickel content the desired quality of repair welded joints of a pressure vessel of VVER 440 reactor can be achieved. Based on the results of the second laboratory study of the renovation technology applied for the rotary surfaces of pressure-tight cover and spindle of the main closing armature type DN 500 it can be concluded, that the developed technology for surfacing the sealing surfaces by TIG process with addition of a high-nickel cold wire the functional capability of the mentioned parts can be fully restored

Technology of repair of selected equipment in the power plant type VVER 440

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Barborka, J.; Magula, V. [Welding Research Inst. (WRI), Bratislava (Slovakia)

1998-11-01

This article is divided in two parts: The first part is studying the effect of individual parameters by the usual and pulsed welding of 15CH2MFA steel. It can be concluded that by use of mechanized or automatic TIG process in PC position with addition of a cold wire with high nickel content the desired quality of repair welded joints of a pressure vessel of VVER 440 reactor can be achieved. Based on the results of the second laboratory study of the renovation technology applied for the rotary surfaces of pressure-tight cover and spindle of the main closing armature type DN 500 it can be concluded, that the developed technology for surfacing the sealing surfaces by TIG process with addition of a high-nickel cold wire the functional capability of the mentioned parts can be fully restored.

Reactor Dosimetry State of the Art 2008

Science.gov (United States)

Voorbraak, Wim; Debarberis, Luigi; D'Hondt, Pierre; Wagemans, Jan

2009-08-01

Oral session 1: Retrospective dosimetry. Retrospective dosimetry of VVER 440 reactor pressure vessel at the 3rd unit of Dukovany NPP / M. Marek ... [et al.]. Retrospective dosimetry study at the RPV of NPP Greifswald unit 1 / J. Konheiser ... [et al.]. Test of prototype detector for retrospective neutron dosimetry of reactor internals and vessel / K. Hayashi ... [et al.]. Neutron doses to the concrete vessel and tendons of a magnox reactor using retrospective dosimetry / D. A. Allen ... [et al.]. A retrospective dosimetry feasibility study for Atucha I / J. Wagemans ... [et al.]. Retrospective reactor dosimetry with zirconium alloy samples in a PWR / L. R. Greenwood and J. P. Foster -- Oral session 2: Experimental techniques. Characterizing the Time-dependent components of reactor n/y environments / P. J. Griffin, S. M. Luker and A. J. Suo-Anttila. Measurements of the recoil-ion response of silicon carbide detectors to fast neutrons / F. H. Ruddy, J. G. Seidel and F. Franceschini. Measurement of the neutron spectrum of the HB-4 cold source at the high flux isotope reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory / J. L. Robertson and E. B. Iverson. Feasibility of cavity ring-down laser spectroscopy for dose rate monitoring on nuclear reactor / H. Tomita ... [et al.]. Measuring transistor damage factors in a non-stable defect environment / D. B. King ... [et al.]. Neutron-detection based monitoring of void effects in boiling water reactors / J. Loberg ... [et al.] -- Poster session 1: Power reactor surveillance, retrospective dosimetry, benchmarks and inter-comparisons, adjustment methods, experimental techniques, transport calculations. Improved diagnostics for analysis of a reactor pulse radiation environment / S. M. Luker ... [et al.]. Simulation of the response of silicon carbide fast neutron detectors / F. Franceschini, F. H. Ruddy and B. Petrović. NSV A-3: a computer code for least-squares adjustment of neutron spectra and measured dosimeter responses / J. G

OECD/DOE/CEA VVER-1000 coolant transient (V1000CT) benchmark for assessing coupled neutronics/thermal-hydraulics system codes for VVER-1000 RIA analysis

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ivanov, B.; Ivanov, K.; Aniel, S.; Royer, E.; Kolev, N.; Groudev, P.

2004-01-01

The present paper describes the two phases of the OECD/DOE/CEA VVER-1000 coolant transient benchmark labeled as V1000CT. This benchmark is based on a data from the Bulgarian Kozloduy NPP Unit 6. The first phase of the benchmark was designed for the purpose of assessing neutron kinetics and thermal-hydraulic modeling for a VVER-1000 reactor, and specifically for their use in analyzing reactivity transients in a VVER-1000 reactor. Most of the results of Phase 1 will be compared against experimental data and the rest of the results will be used for code-to-code comparison. The second phase of the benchmark is planned for evaluation and improvement of the mixing computational models. Code-to-code and code-to-data comparisons will be done based on data of a mixing experiment conducted at Kozloduy-6. Main steam line break will be also analyzed in the second phase of the V1000CT benchmark. The results from it will be used for code-to-code comparison. The benchmark team has been involved in analyzing different aspects and performing sensitivity studies of the different benchmark exercises. The paper presents a comparison of selected results, obtained with two different system thermal-hydraulics codes, with the plant data for the Exercise 1 of Phase 1 of the benchmark as well as some results for Exercises 2 and 3. Overall, this benchmark has been well accepted internationally, with many organizations representing 11 countries participating in the first phase of the benchmark. (authors)

Modernization of Cross Section Library for VVER-1000 Type Reactors Internals and Pressure Vessel Dosimetry

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Voloschenko Andrey

2016-01-01

Full Text Available The broad-group library BGL1000_B7 for neutron and gamma transport calculations in VVER-1000 internals, RPV and shielding was carried out on a base of fine-group library v7-200n47g from SCALE-6 system. The comparison of the library BGL1000_B7 with the library v7-200n47g and the library BGL1000 (the latter is using for VVER-1000 calculations is demonstrated on several calculation and experimental tests.

Information about AER WG a on improvement, extension and validation of parametrized few-group libraries for VVER 440 and VVER 1000

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mikolas, P.

2009-01-01

Joint AER Working Group A on 'Improvement, extension and validation of parameterized few-group libraries for VVER-440 and VVER-1000' and AER Working group B on 'Core design' eighteenth meeting was hosted by Skoda JS a.s. in Plzen (Czech Republic) during the period of 4 to 6 May 2009. There were present altogether 16 participants from 6 member organizations and 13 presentations were read. Objectives of the meeting of WG A are: Issues connected with spectral calculations and few-groups libraries preparation, their accuracy and validation. Presentations were devoted to some aspects of few group libraries preparations and to the benchmark dealing with VVER-440 follower modeling in calculations. Gy. Hegyi gave some new information about NURESIM-NURISP EU project (ZR-6), R. Zajac spoke about the development of data libraries for codes BIPR-7 and PERMAK, P. Darilek compared FA's with Gd during burning process and Yu. Bilodid described further development of plutonium-based burnup history modeling in DYN3D burnup calculations. G. Hordosy presented results of control rod follower induced local power peaking computational benchmark and J. Svarny described Monte Carlo VVER-440 control rod follower benchmark computations. Future activities are also shortly described in the end of the paper. (author)

Thermal aging effects of VVER-1000 weld metal under operation temperature

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chernobaeva, A.A.; Kuleshova, E.A.; Gurovich, B.A.; Erak, D.Y.; Zabusov, O.O.; Maltsev, D.A.; Zhurko, D.A.; Papina, V.B.; Skundin, M.A.

2015-01-01

The VVER-1000 thermal aging surveillance specimen sets are located in the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) under real operation conditions. Thermal aging surveillance specimens data are the most reliable source of the information about changing of VVER-1000 RPV materials properties because of long-term (hundred thousand hours) exposure at operation temperature. A revision of database of VVER-1000 weld metal thermal aging surveillance specimens has been done. The reassessment of transition temperature (T t ) for all tested groups of specimens has been performed. The duration of thermal exposure and phosphorus contents have been defined more precisely. The analysis of thermal aging effects has been done. The yield strength data, study of carbides evolution show absence of hardening effects due to thermal aging under 310-320 C degrees. Measurements of phosphorus content in grain boundaries segregation in different states have been performed. The correlation between intergranular fracture mode in Charpy specimens and transition temperature shift under thermal aging at temperature 310-320 C degrees has been revealed. All these data allow developing the model of thermal aging. (authors)

A study of the effects of changing burn-up and gap gaseous compound on the gap convection coefficient (in a hot fuel pin) in VVER-1000 reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Rahgoshay, M.; Rahmani, Y.

2007-01-01

In this article we worked on the result and process of calculation of the gap heat transfer coefficient for a hot fuel pin in accordance with burn-up changes in the VVER-1000 reactor at the Bushehr nuclear power plant (Iran). With regard to the fact that in calculating the fuel gap heat transfer coefficient, various parameters are effective and the need for designing a model is being felt, therefore, in this article we used Ross and Stoute gap model to study impacts of different effective parameters such as thermal expansion and gaseous fission products on the h gap change rate. Over time and with changes in fuel burn-up some gaseous fission products such as xenon, argon and krypton gases are released to the gas mixture in the gap, which originally contained helium. In this study, the composition of gaseous elements in the gap volume during different times of reactor operation was found using ORIGEN code. Considering that the thermal conduction of these gases is lower than that of helium, and by using the Ross and Stoute gap model, we find first that the changes in gaseous compounds in the gap reduce the values of gap thermal conductivity coefficient, but considering thermal expansion (due to burn-up alterations) of fuel and clad resulting in the reduction of gap thickness we find that the gap heat transfer coefficient will augment in a broad range of burn-up changes. These changes result in a higher rate of gap thickness reduction than the low rate of decrease of heat conduction coefficient of the gas in the gap during burn-up. Once these changes have been defined, we can proceed with the analysis of the results of calculations based on the Ross and Stoute model and compare the results obtained with the experimental results for a hot fuel pin as presented in the final safety analysis report of the VVER-1000 reactor at Bushehr. It is noteworthy that the results of accomplished calculations based on the Ross and Stoute model correspond well with the existing

Recent results of three-dimensional CFD simulations of coolant mixing in VVER-440/213 reactor pressure vessel

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kiss, B.; Boros, I.; Aszodi, A.

2008-01-01

The Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Institute of Nuclear Techniques has been working since 2001 on the three-dimensional CFD model of the reactor pressure vessel of the VVER-440 type reactor. During this time period - due to the development of the available computational capacity - a very complex and detailed model of the RPV has been developed. The aim of the construction of the new model is to describe further internal structures of the RPV (e.g. correct modeling of brake tubes, or internals in the upper mixing chamber) and to perform an extensive sensitivity analysis on the different modeling and calculation parameters (e.g. porous region models vs. detailed modeling, or n different turbulence models). The new model can be applied for steady state calculation during normal operational condition and for different transient analyses as well. One interesting application is the participation in a planned benchmark exercise on the start-up of the sixth main coolant pump, which is aimed to compare the capabilities of mixing models of one-dimensional system codes with the results of CFD simulation. (authors)

Improving the VVER-440 fuel design and technology

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Aksenov, P.; Bondar, Y.; Kolosovsky, Y.; Kochergin, V.; Luzan, Y.; Malakhov, A.; Krapivtsev, V.; Bauman, N.; Shumeev, A.; Filippov, V.

2009-01-01

Operational performance of VVER-440 fuel has long been demonstrating good reliability of the fuel. However, assembly failures occur, and fuel suppliers should always take measures to maintain its reliability. For several years, OAO MSZ has been fabricating working assemblies with detachable shrouds and removable fuel rods. The next step is the supply of demountable assemblies to allow inspection or repair of fuel rods after removal of the shroud. With the help of corresponding program the Russian organizations have carried out research and development work to advance and study operational features of demountable VVER-440 CFAs. The main engineering solutions are consistent with the working assemblies. The pilot demountable CFAs are running in the Kola-4 core. The obtained results can be used when deciding on the demountable CFAs delivery issues. The experiment-calculated research results of coolant mixing in the present design VVER-440 have been analysed. It has been found out that coolant mixing in the WA head is incomplete and that is why leading to conservatism when determining the reactor operational limits. The proposed WA head design includes an upgraded bumper grid with additional planes intensifying coolant mixing in the head. The bumper grid drawing and a pilot model is available. The thermohydraulics and rigidity features of the proposed design have been studied by experiment-calculated methods

Space dependence of reactivity parameters on reactor dynamic perturbation measurements

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Maletti, R.; Ziegenbein, D.

1985-01-01

Practical application of reactor-dynamic perturbation measurements for on-power determination of differential reactivity weight of control rods and power coefficients of reactivity has shown a significant dependence of parameters on the position of outcore detectors. The space dependence of neutron flux signal in the core of a VVER-440-type reactor was measured by means of 60 self-powered neutron detectors. The greatest neutron flux alterations are located close to moved control rods and in height of the perturbation position. By means of computations, detector positions can be found in the core in which the one-point model is almost valid. (author)

Modelling of thermal mechanical behaviour of high burn-Up VVER fuel at power transients with special emphasis on the impact of fission gas induced swelling of fuel pellets

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Novikov, V.; Medvedev, A.; Khvostov, G.; Bogatyr, S.; Kuzetsov, V.; Korystin, L.

2005-01-01

This paper is devoted to the modelling of unsteady state mechanical and thermo-physical behaviour of high burn-up VVER fuel at a power ramp. The contribution of the processes related to the kinetics of fission gas to the consequences of pellet-clad mechanical interaction is analysed by the example of integral VVER-440 rod 9 from the R7 experimental series, with a pellet burn-up in the active part at around 60 MWd/kgU. This fuel rod incurred ramp testing with a ramp value ΔW 1 ∼ 250 W/cm in the MIR research reactor. The experimentally revealed residual deformation of the clad by 30-40 microns in the 'hottest' portion of the rod, reaching a maximum linear power of up to 430 W/cm, is numerically justified on the basis of accounting for the unsteady state swelling and additional degradation of fuel thermal conductivity due to temperature-induced formation and development of gaseous porosity within the grains and on the grain boundaries. The good prediction capability of the START-3 code, coupled with the advanced model of fission gas related processes, with regard to the important mechanical (residual deformation of clad, pellet-clad gap size, central hole filling), thermal physical (fission gas release) and micro-structural (profiles of intra-granular concentration of the retained fission gas and fuel porosity across a pellet) consequences of the R7 test is shown. (authors)

Enhancement of Training Capabilities in VVER Technology Through Establishment of VVER Training Academy

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ilieva, M.; Miteva, R.

2015-01-01

Education and training (E&T) have always been key factor to the sustainability of the nuclear industry. With regard to E&T it is still the challenge to raise the interest of qualified young people of studies and professions related to nuclear technologies. CORONA Project is established to provide a special purpose structure for training and for gathering the existing and generating new knowledge in the VVER area as well as to contribute to transnational mobility and lifelong learning amongst VVER operating countries. CORONA Project consists of two parts: CORONA I (2011–2014) “Establishment of a regional centre of competence for VVER technology and Nuclear Applications”, co-financed by the EC Framework Programme 7 and CORONA II “Enhancement of training capabilities in VVER technology through establishment of VVER training academy”, co-financed by the EURATOM 2014-2015 Working programme of HORIZON 2020. The project is focused on development of training schemes for VVER nuclear professionals, subcontractors, students and for non-nuclear specialists working in support of nuclear applications as civil engineers, physical protection employees, government employees, secondary school teachers, journalists. Safety culture and soft skills training are incorporated as an integral part of all training schemes because they require continuous consideration. It is vital for the acceptance of nuclear energy by the public and for the safe performance of the nuclear installations. CORONA II project is to proceed with the development of state-of-the-art virtual training centre — CORONA Academy. This objective will be realised through networking between universities, research organizations, regulatory bodies, industry and any other organizations involved in the application of nuclear science, ionising radiation and nuclear safety. It will bring together the most experienced trainers and will allow trainees from different locations to access the needed knowledge on demand

The passive system for reflooding of the VVER reactor core from the second-stage hydro-accumulators: design and basic design solutions

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Alexandr D Efanov; Sergey G Kalyakin; Andrey V Morozov; Oleg V Remizov; Vladimir M Berkovich; Victor N Krushelnitskiy; Vladimir G Peresadko; Yuri G Dragunov; Alexey K Podshibyakin; Sergey I Zaitcev

2005-01-01

Full text of publication follows: The fundamental difference in the safety assurance of the operating NPPs and those under design implies that the safety in the existing NPPs is achieved by energy-dependent (active) systems and depends on the proficiency of attending personnel. To provide safety, the new NPP designs use the physical processes proceeding in the facility without power supply; and they are unaffected by human errors. As to the safety level, the design of the new generation nuclear power plant NPP-92 relates to the class of the improved NPPs; and it applies a principle of diversity in the structure of systems responsible for critical safety functions. In accordance with the above-mentioned safety concept, the design development required a complex of experimental investigations and numerical modeling to be conducted. Among the passive safety systems of the NPP with RP-392 is the system of the second stage hydro-accumulators (GE-2). The system of the second-stage hydro-accumulators consists of four groups of hydro-accumulating tanks with a total coolant volume of 960 m 3 . The system is intended for the core flooding with coolant during 24 hours. In each group of the hydro-accumulators, the graded coolant flowrate is provided, which depends on residual heat in the reactor. The special check valves are tuned to open at the pressure drop in the circuit below 1.5 MPa. The paper presents the thermalhydraulic substantiation of the serviceability of the second-stage hydro-accumulators system for passive heat removal from the VVER reactor core and the basic design solutions on the GE-2 system. (authors)

Comparison of hydrogen generation for TVSM and TVSA fuel assemblies for water water energy reactor (VVER)-1000

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Stefanova, A.E.; Groudev, P.P.; Atanasova, B.P.

2009-01-01

This paper presents the results received during investigation of hydrogen generation for both types fuel assemblies-the old modernistic type of fuel assemblies (TVSM) and recently installed new one alternative type of fuel assemblies (TVSA) in case of severe accident. There are some differences between both types FAs. They have different geometry as well as different burnable poisons. To investigate behavior of new fuel assemblies during the severe conditions it have been performed comparison of fuel behavior of old type TVSM fuel assembly to new one TVSA. To perform this investigation it has been used MELCOR 'input model' for Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) VVER 1000. The model was developed by Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy-Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (INRNE-BAS) for investigation of severe accident scenarios and Probabilistic Safety Analyses (PSA) level 2. The model provides a significant analytical capability for the Bulgarian technical specialists, working in the field of the NPP safety, for analysis of core and containment damaged states and the estimation of radionuclides release outside fuel cladding. It was accepted criteria for vessel integrity about hydrogen concentration to be 8%. This criterion was based on the decision of RSK (Germany commission for reactor safety). Generally based on the received results it was made conclusion that using both types of fuel assemblies it was not disturbance safety conditions of NPP

Analysis of scenarios of the inclusion of fast reactors in the nuclear power of Russia in the context of sustainable development with the use of the INPRO methodology

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Usanov, V.I.; Kagramanyan, V.S.; Kalashnikov, A.G.; Korobeinikov, V.V.; Korobitsyn, V.E.; Moseyev, A.L.; Poplavskaya, E.V.

2013-01-01

Conclusions: • The two-component NES of VVER and BN reactors can meet some critical challenges of the present nuclear industry and provide a substantial contribution to enhancing sustainability of a national NP: – basically to solve up to 2050 the problem of the VVER SNF accumulation by using Pu from VVER in MOX fuel for BN reactors; – to ensure management of Pu from VVER to reduce it by 2070 to operational reserve and thus to enhance the NES proliferation resistance; – to save natural U and SWU and thus to facilitate U supply and enrichment capacities for planed deployment of VVERs in Russia and abroad. • Implementation of these opportunities might be a substance of the first phase of the NFC closure • While some INPRO indicators have shown remarkable advantages of the NES with BNs comparing to the present system, some issues in economics and NFC technologies have not got convincing answers. • These challenges along with a crucial safety issues are addressed in the Federal target programmes on transition to a CNFC with advanced FRs which are currently run in Russia

Application of the SCANAIR code for VVER RIA conditions - Boron dilution accident

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Arffman, A.; Cazalis, B.

2010-01-01

This paper consists of two parts. In part A, RIA pulse tests conducted at the Russian BIGR reactor are being analysed at IRSN with SCANAIR V6 fuel performance code as a part of the code validation for VVER fuel. Recently a new version of the SCANAIR code was made available to VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, and part B of the paper covers the introduction of the code version at VTT by a calculation of a hypothetical boron dilution accident in a VVER-440 power reactor. Concerning part A, it appears that the SCANAIR V6 version, including a BIGR/NSRR heat transfer model, validated by Japanese NSRR experiments, and a Norton viscoplastic clad mechanical behaviour, is able to simulate the rod thermal behaviour in BIGR tests. Concerning the clad mechanics, it has been seen that a pellet swelling model is able to simulate the average rod deformation. Nonetheless, the current clad creep model associated with the free volume equilibrium assumption is not suited to predict the maximum clad deformation and the possible post DNB rod failure because they do not simulate local balloons. Furthermore, it has been shown that the clad deformation is strongly dependent on transient gas transfer. Concerning part B, a boron dilution accident previously calculated with SCANAIR V2 was recalculated with SCANAIR V6. A limited amount of result parameters were compared with the results of VTT's neutronics code TRAB. Divergence problems encountered previously when reaching the DNB limit were not present anymore. Fuel and cladding temperatures produced by SCANAIR were in good agreement with those calculated with TRAB

Accounting for the inertia of the thermocouples' measurements by modelling of a NPP Kalinin-3 transient with the coupled system code ATHLET-BIPR-VVER

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nikonov, S.; Velkov, K.

2008-01-01

The ATHLET-BIPR-VVER coupled system code is applied for performing of safety analysis for different WWER reactors. During the last years its validation matrix is continuously being enlarged. The measurements performed during the commissioning phase of NPP Kalinin Unit 3 for the transient 'Switching-off of one Main Circulation Pump at nominal power' are very well documented and have a variety of recorded integral and local thermo-hydraulic and neutron-physic parameters including the measurements' errors. This data is being used for further validation of the coupled code system ATHLET-BIPR-VVER. In the paper are discussed the problems and our solutions by the correct interpretation of the measured thermocouples' records at NPP Kalinin-3 and the comparison with the predicted results by the coupled thermal-hydraulic/neutron-kinetic code ATHLET-BIPR-VVER. Of primary importance by such comparisons is the correct accounting of the fluid mixing process that take place in the surrounding of the measuring sensors and also the consideration of the time delay (inertia term) of the measuring devices. On the bases of previous experience and many simulations of the defined transient a method is discussed and proposed to consider correctly the inertia term of the thermocouples' measurements. The new modelling is implemented in the coupled system code ATHLET-BIPR-VVER for further validation. (Author)

Engineering Margin Factors Used in the Design of the VVER Fuel Cycles

Science.gov (United States)

Lizorkin, M. P.; Shishkov, L. K.

2017-12-01

The article describes methods for determination of the engineering margin factors currently used to estimate the uncertainties of the VVER reactor design parameters calculated via the KASKAD software package developed at the National Research Center Kurchatov Institute. These margin factors ensure the meeting of the operating (design) limits and a number of other restrictions under normal operating conditions.

Title Investigation of the influence of various factors on the power of heat exchange by radiation

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Korolyov Alexander V.

2017-04-01

Full Text Available The issue of lack of knowledge of radiation heat transfer process has been repeatedly raised in various studies. Despite the fact that works on study of heat transfer by radiation covers a wide range of different industries, it should be noted the lack of materials on study of heat exchange processes by radiation in a core of a nuclear reactor. In this work, the fuel assemblies of the VVER-1000 reactor were used as the bodies under study. Aim: The aim of the research is to investigate the heat exchange process between heat transfer assemblies and to study of the effect of changing the distance between the fuel assemblies on their power taking into account the inter-radiating of assemblies. Materials and Methods: A general description of the process of heat transfer by radiation. A calculation study of the effect of geometric parameters on heat transfer in the close lattice of the reactor core is performed. The influence of heat transfer by radiation on the temperature change of the fuel assemblies surface of the VVER-1000 reactor at change in the cassette gap is studied. The change in the power of the fuel assemblies relative to the initial power with a change in the cassette gap was studied. Experimental measurements of the temperature at different distances from the radiation source were made with an obstacle in the path of radiation propagation in the form of glass and water of different levels. The heat radiation and convective heat transfer are calculated based on the obtained experimental data. The calculation of thermal radiation power and convective heat transfer based on the obtained experimental data is performed. Results: The calculation results show that in models that determine the temperature of the fuel assemblies in the core of the VVER-1000 reactor, the radiation heat transfer must be taken into account. In this case, the amount of transferred energy is the greater, the smaller the distance between objects. This is observed

CATHARE-2 prediction of large primary to secondary leakage (PRISE) at PSB-VVER experimental facility

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sabotinov, L.; Chevrier, P. [Institut de Radioprotection et de Surete Nucleaire, 92 - Fontenay aux Roses (France)

2007-07-01

The large primary to secondary leakage (PRISE) is a specific loss-of-coolant accident in VVER reactors, related to the break of the steam generator collector cover, leading to loss of primary mass inventory and possible direct radioactive release to atmosphere. The best estimate thermal-hydraulic computer code CATHARE-2 Version 2.5-1 was used for post-test analysis of a PRISE experiment, conducted at the large scale test facility PSB-VVER in Russia. The PSB rig is 1:300 scaled model of VVER-1000 NPP. The accident is calculated with a 1.4% break size, which corresponds to 100 mm leak from primary to secondary side in the real NPP. A computer model has been developed for CATHARE-2 V2.5-1, taking into account all important components of the PSB facility: reactor model (lower plenum, core, bypass, upper plenum, downcomer), 4 separate loops, pressurizer, horizontal multi-tube steam generators, break section. The secondary side is presented by recirculation model. A large number of sensitivity calculations has been performed regarding break modeling, reactor pressure vessel modeling, counter current flow modeling, hydraulic losses, heat losses, steam generator level regulation. Comparison between calculated and experimental results shows good prediction of the basic thermal-hydraulic phenomena and parameters such as primary and secondary pressures, temperatures, loop flows, etc. Some discrepancies were observed in the calculations of primary mass inventory and loop seal clearance. Nevertheless the final core heat up, which is one of the most important safety criteria, was correctly predicted. (authors)

Assessment of In-vessel corium retention for VVER-440/V213

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Matejovic, P.; Barnak, M.; Bachraty, M.; Berky, R.

2011-01-01

In-vessel corium retention (IVR) via external reactor vessel cooling (ERVC) has been recognised as a feasible and promising severe accident management strategy for VVER-440/V213 reactors. In general, the avoiding of boiling crisis on outer (cooled) RPV (reactor pressure vessel) surface is sufficient condition for preserving the RPV integrity. The crucial point of the proposed IVR concept for VVER-440/V213 is the narrow gap between elliptical lower head and thermal and biological shield. In the cold conditions the width of this gap is only about 2 cm and would be even lower in hot IVR conditions, when the reactor wall is subjected to large thermal gradients due to temperature difference between the hot inner surface (loaded by corium) and cold outer surface (which is cooled by water in flooded cavity). Sufficient gap should remain free for coolant flow for the success of the proposed IVR concept. Thus, realistic estimation of thermal load and corresponding deformations of reactor wall and their impact on gap width are of primarily importance. Two different approaches were used for the estimation of the thermal load: a conservative approach and a transient approach, both were computed with the ASTEC code. The structural analysis of RPV subjected to IVR load was performed using the finite element method (FEM) code ANSYS release 10.0. From the results obtained it follows, that even when the RPV is subjected to limiting loading conditions during severe accident, there should be sufficient gap width (∼ 1 cm) between RPV wall and thermal/biological shield for the coolant flow in natural circulation regime alongside the outer surface of the RPV wall

Extension and Verification of the Cross-Section Library for the VVER-1000 Surveillance Specimen Region

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kirilova, D.; Belousov, S.; Ilieva, K.

2011-01-01

The objective of this work is a generation of new version of the BGL multigroup cross-section to extend the region of its applicability. The existing library version is problem oriented for VVER-1000 type of reactors and was generated by collapsing of the VITAMIN-B6 problem independent cross-section fine-group library applying the VVER-1000 reactor middle plane spectrum in cylindrical geometry. The new version BGLex additionally contains cross-sections averaged on the corresponding spectra of the surveillance specimen's (SS) region for VVER-1000 type of reactors. Comparative analysis of the neutron spectra for different one-dimensional geometry models that could be applied for the cross-section collapsing using the software package SCALE, showed a high sensitivity of the results to the geometry model. That is why a neutron importance assessment was done for the SS region using the adjoint solution calculated by the two-dimensional code DORT and problem-independent library VITAMIN-B6. The one-dimensional geometry model applied to the cross-section collapsing were determined by the material limits above the reactor core in axial direction z as for every material a homogenization in radial direction was done. The material homogenization in radial direction was done by material weighing taking into account the adjoint solution as well as the neutron source. The one-dimensional geometry model comprising the homogenized weighed materials was applied for the cross-section generation of the fine-group library VITAMIN-B6 to the broad-group structure of BGL library. The new version BGLex was extended with cross-sections for the SS region. Verification and validation of the new version BGLex is forthcoming. It includes comparison between the calculated results with the new version BGLex and the libraries BGL and VITAMIN-B6 and comparison with experimental results. (author)

Extension and Verification of the Cross-Section Library for the VVER- 1000 Surveillance Specimen Region

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kirilova, D.; Belousov, S.; Ilieva, K.

2011-01-01

The objective of this work is a generation of new version of the BGL multigroup cross-section to extend the region of its applicability. The existing library version is problem oriented for VVER-1000 type of reactors and was generated by collapsing of the VITAMIN-B6 problem independent cross-section fine-group library applying the VVER-1000 reactor middle plane spectrum in cylindrical geometry. The new version BGLex additionally contains cross-sections averaged on the corresponding spectra of the surveillance specimen's (SS) region for VVER-1000 type of reactors. Comparative analysis of the neutron spectra for different one-dimensional geometry models that could be applied for the cross-section collapsing using the software package SCALE, showed a high sensitivity of the results to the geometry model. That is why a neutron importance assessment was done for the SS region using the adjoint solution calculated by the two-dimensional code DORT and problem-independent library VITAMIN-B6. The one-dimensional geometry model applied to the cross-section collapsing were determined by the material limits above the reactor core in axial direction z as for every material a homogenization in radial direction was done. The material homogenization in radial direction was done by material weighing taking into account the adjoint solution as well as the neutron source. The one-dimensional geometry model comprising the homogenized weighed materials was applied for the cross-section generation of the fine-group library VITAMIN-B6 to the broad-group structure of BGL library. The new version BGLex was extended with cross-sections for the SS region. Verification and validation of the new version BGLex is forthcoming. It includes comparison between the calculated results with the new version BGLex and the libraries BGL and VITAMIN-B6 and comparison with experimental results. (author)

Method of the characteristics for calculation of VVER without homogenization

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Suslov, I.R.; Komlev, O.G.; Novikova, N.N.; Zemskov, E.A.; Tormyshev, I.V.; Melnikov, K.G.; Sidorov, E.B. [Institute of Physics and Power Engineering, Obninsk (Russian Federation)

2005-07-01

The first stage of the development of characteristics code MCCG3D for calculation of the VVER-type reactor without homogenization is presented. The parallel version of the code for MPI was developed and tested on cluster PC with LINUX-OS. Further development of the MCCG3D code for design-level calculations with full-scale space-distributed feedbacks is discussed. For validation of the MCCG3D code we use the critical assembly VENUS-2. The geometrical models with and without homogenization have been used. With both models the MCCG3D results agree well with the experimental power distribution and with results generated by the other codes, but model without homogenization provides better results. The perturbation theory for MCCG3D code is developed and implemented in the module KEFSFGG. The calculations with KEFSFGG are in good agreement with direct calculations. (authors)

Numerical investigation of passive heat removal system via steam generator in VVER 1200

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Dinh Anh Tuan; Duong Thanh Tung; Tran Chi Thanh; Nguyen Van Thai

2015-01-01

Passive heat removal system (PHRS) via Steam Generator is an important part in VVER design. In case of Design Basic Accidents such as blackout, failure of feed water supply to steam generator or coolant leakage with failure of emergency core cooling at high pressure. PHRS is designed to remove the residual heat from reactor core through steam generator to heat exchanger which is placed outside reactor vessel. In order to evaluate the passive system, a numerical investigation using a CFD code is performed. However, PHRS has complex geometry for using CFD simulation. Thus, RELAP5 is applied to provide the wall heat flux of tube in the heat exchanger tank. The natural convection in the heat exchanger tank is investigated in this report. Numerical results show temperature and velocity distribution in the heat exchanger tank are calculated with different wall heat flux corresponding to various transient conditions. The calculated results contribute to the capacity analysis of passive heat removal system and giving valuable information for safe operation of VVER 1200. (author)

Safety research needs for Russian-designed reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

1998-01-01

In June 1995, an OECD Support Group was set up to perform a broad study of the safety research needs of Russian-designed reactors. This Support Group was endorsed by the CSNI. The Support Group, which is composed of senior experts on safety research from several OECD countries and from Russia, prepared this Report. The Group reviewed the safety research performed to support Russian-designed reactors and set down its views on future needs. The review concentrates on the following main topics: Thermal-Hydraulics/Plant Transients for VVERs; Integrity of Equipment and Structures for VVERs; Severe Accidents for VVERs; Operational Safety Issues; Thermal-Hydraulics/Plant Transients for RBMKs; Integrity of Equipment and Structures for RBMKs; Severe Accidents for RBMKs. (K.A.)

Analysis of the VVER Standard Problem INSC-PSBV1 '11% Coolant Leak from Upper Plenum' with RELAP5/MOD3.2

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Melikhov, O.; Melikhov, V.; Parfenov, Yu.; Gavritenkova, O.; Lipatov, I.; Elkin, I.; Bayless, P.

2004-01-01

Analyses of a loss-of-coolant experiment carried out at the PSB-VVER test facility with the RELAP5/MOD3.2 code have been performed independently by analysts at the Electrogorsk Research and Engineering Center (EREC) and the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL). The PSB-VVER facility is a full-height scale model of a VVER 1000 reactor that is approximately 1/300 scale in volume and power. VVER Standard Problem INSC-PSBV1 represents an 11% leak from the upper plenum of the PSB-VVER facility, simulating the rupture of one of the accumulator injection lines. The safety-significant thermalhydraulic phenomena occurring in VVER type reactors addressed by this experiment were identified in the test validation matrix. Most of the phenomena of the validation matrix were reasonably simulated by RELAP5/MOD3.2 in both calculations. The major differences between the test and the calculations were the timing of the core heatup, and the thermal response to the accumulator injection cycles in both calculations. The INEEL calculation had a more extensive axial heatup, with most of the core experiencing small heat-ups. The accumulator injection was more effective in quenching the core in the test than in the INEEL calculation. This difference is attributed to the liquid distribution in the core, rather than to the heat transfer models in the code. The code calculation had a more uniform axial distribution of the liquid in the core, and the accumulator injection did not have much impact on the core liquid inventory. In the EREC calculation, only one heatup of the cladding temperature was observed for upper and middle section of the fuel rods before the final heatup. The small heat-ups were not reproduced in EREC calculation. The difference could be attributed to differences in liquid distribution, namely the core region in the EREC calculation contains more liquid over most of the transient than in the experiment. The distribution of liquid in the core in

Refurbishing the reactor protection systems of VVER-440/230 and VVER-1000/320 nuclear power plants with exclusively digital IandC systems

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Martin, M.

1997-01-01

The refurbishment of reactor protection systems of nuclear power plants is based on two sets of requirements: engineering aspects such as performance, qualification and licensing, as well as interfaces to other systems; and cost-benefit relationships, ease of service and maintenance as well as installation during scheduled outages. A number of WWER-440 and WWER-1000 nuclear plants have announced their intention to refurbish their protection systems. Since 1994, these plants have been placing orders with Siemens for new protection systems, including the neutron flux monitoring system utilizing the advanced system TELEPERM XS. This exclusively digital IandC system provides an excellent foundation for the remaining plant service life

Reactor power control device

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ishii, Yoshihiko; Arita, Setsuo; Miyamoto, Yoshiyuki; Fukazawa, Yukihisa; Ishii, Kazuhiko

1998-01-01

The present invention provides a reactor power control device capable of enhancing an operation efficiency while keeping high reliability and safety in a BWR type nuclear power plant. Namely, the device of the present invention comprises (1) a means for inputting a set value of a generator power and a set value of a reactor power, (2) a means for controlling the reactor power to either smaller one of the reactor power corresponding to the set value of the generator power and the set value of the reactor power. With such procedures, even if the nuclear power plant is set so as to operate it to make the reactor power 100%, when the generator power reaches the upper limit, the reactor power is controlled with a preference given to the upper limit value of the generator power. Accordingly, safety and reliability are not deteriorated. The operation efficiency of the plant can be improved. (I.S.)

Installation and testing of the ERANOS computer code for fast reactor calculations

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gren, Milan

2010-12-01

The French ERANOS computer code was acquired and tested by solving benchmark problems. Five problems were calculated: 1D XZ Model, 1D RZ Model, 3D HEX SNR 300 reactor, 2S HEX and 3D HEX VVER 440 reactor. The multi-group diffuse approximation was used. The multiplication coefficients were compared within the first problem, neutron flux density in the calculation points was obtained within the second problem, and powers in the various reactor areas and in the assemblies were calculated within the remaining problems. (P.A.)

CFD investigations of natural circulation between the RPV and the cooling pond of VVER-440 type reactors in incidental conditions during maintenance performed with the code CFX-4.3

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Legradi, G.; Aszodi, A.

2002-01-01

During the annual maintenance of the VVER-440 type reactors, the RPV, the cooling pond and the transfer pond form a connected flow domain. The reactor is cooled by the natural circulation, which develops in one or two main loops. The cooling pond has its own cooling loops. CFD calculations have been performed with the CFX-4.3 code to investigate whether it is possible to cool the reactor core in case the main loops are lost and other emergency systems are not available. The results point out that the cooling system of the cooling pond is not capable of cooling the reactor core with the present connection. Therefore, modifications of the cooling system are investigated which would make it suitable for removing the remanent heat from the core.(author)

Guide to power reactors

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

NONE

1959-07-15

The IAEA's major first scientific publication is the Directory of Power Reactors now in operation or under construction in various parts of the world. The purpose of the directory is to present important details of various power projects in such a way as to provide a source of easy reference for anyone interested in the development of the peaceful uses of atomic energy, either at the technical or management level. Six pages have been devoted to each reactor the first of which contains general information, reactor physics data and information about the core. The second and third contain sketches of the fuel element or of the fuel element assembly, and of the horizontal and vertical sections of the reactor. On the fourth page information is grouped under the following heads: fuel element, core heat transfer, control, reactor vessel and over-all dimensions, and fluid flow. The fifth page shows a simplified flow diagram, while the sixth provides information on reflector and shielding, containment and turbo generator. Some information has also been given, when available, on cost estimates and operating staff requirements. Remarks and a bibliography constitute the last part of the description of each reactor. Reactor projects included in this directory are pressurized light water cooled power reactors. Boiling light water cooled power reactors, heavy water cooled power reactors, gas cooled power reactors, organic cooled power reactors liquid metal cooled power reactors and liquid metal cooled power reactors

Economical Feedback of Increasing Fuel Enrichment on Electricity Cost for VVER-1000

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Mohammed Saad Dwiddar

2015-08-01

Full Text Available A methodology of evaluating the economics of the front-end nuclear fuel cycle with a price change sensitivity analysis for a VVER-1000 reactor core as a case study is presented. The effect of increasing the fuel enrichment and its corresponding reactor cycle length on the energy cost is investigated. The enrichment component was found to represent the highly expenses dynamic component affecting the economics of the front-end fuel cycle. Nevertheless, the increase of the fuel enrichment will increase the reactor cycle length, which will have a positive feedback on the electricity generation cost (cent/KWh. A long reactor operation time with a cheaper energy cost set the nuclear energy as a competitive alternative when compared with other energy sources.

Results of operation of VVER-1000 FAs manufactured at PJSC NCCP

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Davidov, D.; Brovkin, O.; Bezborodov, Y.

2015-01-01

Fuel Assemblies manufactured at PJSC NCCP are in operation at 27 VVER-1000 power units at 11 NPPs in Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, China, Iran and India. Basic results of operation of PJSC NCCP VVER-1000 FAs during 2007-2014 are presented. The operation results confirm the design characteristics of fuel, i.e.: average fuel burnup up to 55 MW*day/kgU in FAs; safe and reliable FA operation, with low leaking rate (in the order of 10-6). The achieved operation characteristics of TVSA and TVS-2M Fuel Assemblies prove the quality, reliability and competitiveness of FAs manufactured at PJSC NCCP

Reactor power measuring device

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Izumi, Mikio; Sano, Yuji; Seki, Eiji; Yoshida, Toshifumi; Ito, Toshiaki.

1993-01-01

The present invention provides a self-powered long detector having a sensitivity over the entire length of a reactor core as an entire control rod withdrawal range of a BWR type reactor, and a reactor power measuring device using a gamma ray thermometer which scarcely causes sensitivity degradation. That is, a hollow protection pipe is disposed passing through the reactor core from the outside of a reactor pressure vessel. The self-powered long detectors and the gamma ray thermometers are inserted and installed in the protection pipe. An average reactor power in an axial direction of the reactor relative to a certain position in the horizontal cross section of the reactor core is determined based on the power of the self-powered long detector over the entire length of the reactor core. Since the response of the self-powered detector relative to a local power change is rapid, the output is used as an input signal to a safety protection device of the reactor core. Further, a gamma ray thermometer secured in the reactor and having scarce sensitivity degradation is used instead of an incore travelling neutron monitor used for relative calibration of an existent neutron monitor secured in the reactor. (I.S.)

TAREG 2.01/00 Project, ''Validation of neutron embrittlement for VVER 1000 and 440/213 RPVs, with emphasis on integrity assessment''

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ahlstrand, R.; Margolin, B.; Kostylev, V.; Yurchenko, E.; Akbashev, I.; Piminov, V.; Nikolaev, Y.; Koshkin, V.; Kharshenko, V.; Chyrko, L.; Bukhanov, V.; Comsa, O.

2012-01-01

The irradiation embrittlement and integrity of the VVER reactors has been an important issue in many EC supported TACIS and PHARE projects since 1990. In the EC annual program 2000 two TACIS projects (TAREG 2.01/00 and 2.01/03) were approved on the issue in order to improve the neutron irradiation embrittlement databases, elaborate new trend curves for the embrittlement and to assess the integrity of the RPVs (Reactor Pressure Vessel) by analysing PTS transients (Pressurized Thermal Shock) for some selected Russian and Ukrainian VVER 1000 and 440/213 NPPs. In this paper the TAREG 2.01/00 project is briefly described with some details from the twin project 2.01/03, which served as a materials testing project, providing inputs for the 1st project. As a result of the project new trend curves for neutron irradiation embrittlement were elaborated, based on upgraded and more reliable surveillance results databases. The PTS study shows that the integrity of the selected VVER RPVs can be ensured to the end of RPV design life. (author)

Hydrogen mixing analyses for a VVER containment.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sienicki, J.J.; Kostka, P.; Techy, Z.

2002-02-25

Hydrogen combustion may represent a threat to containment integrity in a VVER-440/213 plant owing to the combination of high pressure and high temperature. A study has been carried out using the GASFLOW 2.1 three-dimensional CFD code to evaluate the hydrogen distribution in the containment during a beyond design basis accident. The VVER-440/213 containment input model consists of two 3D blocks connected via one-dimensional (1D) ducts. One 3D block contains the reactor building and the accident localization tower with the suppression pools. Another 3D block models the air traps. 1D ducts represent the check valves connecting the accident localization tower with the air traps. The VVER pressure suppression system, called ''bubbler condenser,'' was modeled as a distributed heat sink with water thermodynamic properties. This model accounts for the energy balance. However, it is not currently possible to model dynamic phenomena associated with the water pools (e.g., vent clearing, level change). The GASFLOW 2.1 calculation gave detailed results for the spatial distribution of thermal-hydraulic parameters and gas concentrations. The range and trend of the parameters are reasonable and valuable. There are particularly interesting circulation patterns around the steam generators, in the bubbler tower and other primary system compartments. In case of the bubbler tower, concentration and temperature contour plots show an inhomogeneous distribution along the height and width, changing during the accident. Hydrogen concentrations also vary within primary system compartments displaying lower as well as higher (up to 13-20% and higher) values in some nodes. Prediction of such concentration distributions was not previously possible with lumped parameter codes. GASFLOW 2.1 calculations were compared with CONTAIN 1.2 (lumped parameter code) results. Apart from the qualitatively similar trends, there are, for the time being, quantitative differences between the

Water chemistry experiences with VVERs at Kudankulam

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Rout, D.; Upadhyaya, T.C.; Ravindranath; Selvinayagam, P.; Sundar, R.S.

2015-01-01

Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project - 1 and 2 (Kudankulam NPP - 1 and 2) are pressurised water cooled VVERs of 1000 MWe each. Kudankulam NPP Unit - 1 is presently on its first cycle of operation and Kudankulam NPP Unit - 2 is on the advanced stage of commissioning with the successful completion of hot run related Functional tests. Water Chemistry aspects during various phases of commissioning of Kudankulam NPP Unit - 1 such as Hot Run, Boric acid flushing, initial fuel Loading (IFL), First approach to Criticality (FAC) are discussed. The main objectives of the use of controlled primary water chemistry programme during the hot functional tests are reviewed. The importance of the relevant water chemistry parameters were ensured to have the quality of the passive layer formed on the primary coolant system surfaces. The operational experiences during the 1 st cycle of operation of primary water chemistry, radioactivity transport and build-up are presented. The operational experience of some VVER units in the field of the primary water chemistry, radioactivity transport and build-up are presented as a comparison to VVER at Kudankulam NPP. The effects of the initial passivated layer formed on metal surfaces during hot run, activated corrosion products levels in the primary coolant under controlled water chemistry regime and the contamination/radiation situation are discussed. This report also includes the water chemistry related issues of secondary water systems. (author)

PMK-2, the First Integral Thermal-Hydraulics Tests for the Safety Evaluation of VVER-440/213 Nuclear Power Plants

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Gy. Ézsöl

2012-01-01

Full Text Available The PMK-2 facility is a full-pressure thermal-hydraulic model of the primary and partly the secondary circuit of the VVER-type units of Paks NPP. The facility was the first integral-type facility for VVERs. The PMK-2 was followed later by the PACTEL (for VVER-440, the ISB, and PSB for VVER-1000. Since the startup of the facility in 1985, 55 experiments have been performed primarily in international frameworks with the participation of experts from 29 European and overseas countries forming a scientific school to better understand VVER system behaviour and reach a high level of modelling of accident sequences. The ATHLET, CATHARE, and RELAP5 codes have been validated including both qualitative and quantitative assessments. The former was almost exclusively applied to the early phase of validation by integral experiments, while the quantitative assessments have been performed by the Fast Fourier Transform Based Method. Paper gives comprehensive information on the design features of PMK-2 facility with a special respect to the representativeness of phenomena, the experiments performed, and the results of the validation of ATHLET, CATHARE, and RELAP5 codes. Safety significance of the PMK-2 projects is also discussed.

PMK-2, the First Integral Thermal-Hydraulics Tests for the Safety Evaluation of VVER-440/213 Nuclear Power Plants

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ezsol, G.; Perneczky, L.; Szabados, L.; Toth, I.

2012-01-01

The PMK-2 facility is a full-pressure thermal-hydraulic model of the primary and partly the secondary circuit of the VVER-type units of Paks NPP. The facility was the first integral-type facility for VVERs. The PMK-2 was followed later by the PACTEL (for VVER-440), the ISB, and PSB for VVER-1000. Since the startup of the facility in 1985, 55 experiments have been performed primarily in international frameworks with the participation of experts from 29 European and overseas countries forming a scientific school to better understand VVER system behaviour and reach a high level of modelling of accident sequences. The ATHLET, CATHARE, and RELAP5 codes have been validated including both qualitative and quantitative assessments. The former was almost exclusively applied to the early phase of validation by integral experiments, while the quantitative assessments have been performed by the Fast Fourier Transform Based Method. Paper gives comprehensive information on the design features of PMK-2 facility with a special respect to the representativeness of phenomena, the experiments performed, and the results of the validation of ATHLET, CATHARE, and RELAP5 codes. Safety significance of the PMK-2 projects is also discussed

Development of a qualified nodalization for small-break LOCA transient analysis in PSB-VVER integral test facility by RELAP5 system code

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Shahedi, S. [Department of Energy Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Street, Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Jafari, J., E-mail: jalil_jafari@yahoo.co [Reactors and Accelerators R and D School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, North Kargar Street, Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Boroushaki, M. [Department of Energy Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Street, Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of); D' Auria, F. [DIMNP, University of Pisa, Via Diotisalvi 2, 56126 Pisa (Italy)

2010-10-15

This paper deals with development and qualification of a nodalization for modeling of the PSB-VVER integral test facility (ITF) by RELAP5/MOD3.2 code and prediction of its primary and secondary systems behaviors at steady state and transient conditions. The PSB-VVER is a full-height, 1/300 volume and power scale representation of a VVER-1000 NPP. A RELAP5 nodalization has been developed for PSB-VVER modeling and a nodalization qualification process has been applied for the developed nodalization at steady state and transient levels and a qualified nodalization has been proposed for modeling of the PSB ITF. The 11% small-break loss-of-coolant-accident (SBLOCA), i.e. rupture of one of the hydroaccumulators (HA) injection lines in the upper plenum (UP) region of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) below the hot legs (HL), inlets has been considered for nodalization qualification process. The influence of the different steam generator (SG) nodalizations on the RELAP5 results and on the nodalization qualification process has been examined. The 'steady state' qualification level includes checking the correctness of the initial and boundary conditions and geometrical fidelity. In the 'transient' qualification level, the time dependent results of the code calculation are compared with the experimental time trends from both the qualitative and quantitative point of view. For quantitative assessment of the results, a Fast Fourier Transform Based Method (FFTBM) has been used. The FFTBM was used to establish a range in which the steam generators nodalizations can vary.

CFD Analysis of a Slug Mixing Experiment Conducted on a VVER-1000 Model

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

F. Moretti

2009-01-01

Full Text Available A commercial CFD code was applied, for validation purposes, to the simulation of a slug mixing experiment carried out at OKB “Gidropress” scaled facility in the framework of EC TACIS project R2.02/02: “Development of safety analysis capabilities for VVER-1000 transients involving spatial variations of coolant properties (temperature or boron concentration at core inlet.” Such experimental model reproduces a VVER-1000 nuclear reactor and is aimed at investigating the in-vessel mixing phenomena. The addressed experiment involves the start-up of one of the four reactor coolant pumps (the other three remaining idle, and the presence of a tracer slug on the starting loop, which is thus transported to the reactor pressure vessel where it mixes with the clear water. Such conditions may occur in a boron dilution scenario, hence the relevance of the addressed phenomena for nuclear reactor safety. Both a pretest and a posttest CFD simulations of the mentioned experiment were performed, which differ in the definition of the boundary conditions (based either on nominal quantities or on measured quantities, resp.. The numerical results are qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed and compared against the measured data in terms of space and time tracer distribution at the core inlet. The improvement of the results due to the optimization of the boundary conditions is evidenced, and a quantification of the simulation accuracy is proposed.

Primary water chemistry of VVERs-operating experience

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kysela, Jan; Zmitko, Milan; Petrecky, Igor

1998-01-01

VVER units are operated in mixed boron-potassium-ammonia water chemistry. Several modifications of the water chemistry, differing in boron-potassium co-ordination and in the way how hydrogen concentration is produced and maintain in the coolant, is used. From the operational experience point of view VVER units do not show any significant problems connected with the primary coolant chemistry. The latest results indicate that dose rate levels are slowly returning to the former ones. An improvement of the radiation situation observed last two years is supported by the surface activity measurements. However, the final conclusion on the radiation situation can be made only after evaluation of the several following cycles. Further investigation is also needed to clarify a possible effect of modified water chemistry and shut-down chemistry on radioactivity build-up and dose rate level at Dukovany units. Structure materials composition has a significant effect on radiation situation in the units. It concerns mainly of cobalt content in SG material. There is no clear evidence of possible effect of the SG shut-down regimes on the radiation situation in the units even if the dose rate and surface activity data show wide spread for the individual reactor loops. (S.Y.)

Influence of Bypass on Thermo-Hydraulics of VVER 440 Fuel Assembly

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Jakubec Jakub

2017-04-01

Full Text Available The paper deals with CFD modelling and simulation of coolant flow within the nuclear reactor VVER 440 fuel assembly. The influence of coolant flow in bypass on the temperature distribution at the outlet of the fuel assembly and pressure drop was investigated. Only steady-state analyses were performed. Boundary conditions are based on operating conditions. ANSYS CFX is chosen as the main CFD software tool, where all analyses are performed.

Management of primary-to-secondary leaks at Loviisa nuclear power plant

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Mohnsen, B.; Jaenkaelae, K. [IVO International Ltd, Vantaa (Finland)

1995-12-31

The Loviisa Nuclear power plant consisting of two VVER-440 type press water reactor units has been in commercial operation since the late 1970`s. Specific features for VVER-440 reactors are six primary loops with horizontal steam generators and main gate valves. The structure of the horizontal steam generators construction may cause a large primary to secondary leak in case of a break in the cover of the primary collector. An accident where two primary collector covers opened totally and two covers opened partly took place in Rovno, Ukraine January 1982. Primary to secondary leaks are one of the main contributors to the core melt frequency in VVER reactors according to the Loviisa 1 Probabilistic Safety Assessment. The high core damage contribution has set requirements for the development of effective means to cope with all sizes of primary to secondary leaks in the steam generator. A concept for all leak sizes has been developed for Loviisa 1 and 2. The solution includes four main areas which are a new steam generator leakage monitoring system based on nitrogen-16 measurement, an upgraded pressurizer spray system, an increased emergency cooling water reserve and an automated isolation of the defected steam generator.

Management of primary-to-secondary leaks at Loviisa nuclear power plant

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mohnsen, B.; Jaenkaelae, K.

1995-01-01

The Loviisa Nuclear power plant consisting of two VVER-440 type press water reactor units has been in commercial operation since the late 1970's. Specific features for VVER-440 reactors are six primary loops with horizontal steam generators and main gate valves. The structure of the horizontal steam generators construction may cause a large primary to secondary leak in case of a break in the cover of the primary collector. An accident where two primary collector covers opened totally and two covers opened partly took place in Rovno, Ukraine January 1982. Primary to secondary leaks are one of the main contributors to the core melt frequency in VVER reactors according to the Loviisa 1 Probabilistic Safety Assessment. The high core damage contribution has set requirements for the development of effective means to cope with all sizes of primary to secondary leaks in the steam generator. A concept for all leak sizes has been developed for Loviisa 1 and 2. The solution includes four main areas which are a new steam generator leakage monitoring system based on nitrogen-16 measurement, an upgraded pressurizer spray system, an increased emergency cooling water reserve and an automated isolation of the defected steam generator

Management of primary-to-secondary leaks at Loviisa nuclear power plant

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Mohnsen, B; Jaenkaelae, K [IVO International Ltd, Vantaa (Finland)

1996-12-31

The Loviisa Nuclear power plant consisting of two VVER-440 type press water reactor units has been in commercial operation since the late 1970`s. Specific features for VVER-440 reactors are six primary loops with horizontal steam generators and main gate valves. The structure of the horizontal steam generators construction may cause a large primary to secondary leak in case of a break in the cover of the primary collector. An accident where two primary collector covers opened totally and two covers opened partly took place in Rovno, Ukraine January 1982. Primary to secondary leaks are one of the main contributors to the core melt frequency in VVER reactors according to the Loviisa 1 Probabilistic Safety Assessment. The high core damage contribution has set requirements for the development of effective means to cope with all sizes of primary to secondary leaks in the steam generator. A concept for all leak sizes has been developed for Loviisa 1 and 2. The solution includes four main areas which are a new steam generator leakage monitoring system based on nitrogen-16 measurement, an upgraded pressurizer spray system, an increased emergency cooling water reserve and an automated isolation of the defected steam generator.

Investigation of station blackout scenario in VVER440/v230 with RELAP5 computer code

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Gencheva, Rositsa Veselinova, E-mail: roseh@mail.bg; Stefanova, Antoaneta Emilova, E-mail: antoanet@inrne.bas.bg; Groudev, Pavlin Petkov, E-mail: pavlinpg@inrne.bas.bg

2015-12-15

Highlights: • We have modeled SBO in VVER440. • RELAP5/MOD3 computer code has been used. • Base case calculation has been done. • Fail case calculation has been done. • Operator and alternative operator actions have been investigated. - Abstract: During the development of symptom-based emergency operating procedures (SB-EOPs) for VVER440/v230 units at Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) a number of analyses have been performed using the RELAP5/MOD3 (Carlson et al., 1990). Some of them investigate the response of VVER440/v230 during the station blackout (SBO). The main purpose of the analyses presented in this paper is to identify the behavior of important VVER440 parameters in case of total station blackout. The RELAP5/MOD3 has been used to simulate the SBO in VVER440 NPP model (Fletcher and Schultz, 1995). This model was developed at the Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (INRNE-BAS), Sofia, for analyses of operational occurrences, abnormal events and design based scenarios. The model provides a significant analytical capability for specialists working in the field of NPP safety.

Design and neutronic investigation of the Nano fluids application to VVER-1000 nuclear reactor with dual cooled annular fuel

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ansarifar, G.R.; Ebrahimian, M.

2016-01-01

Highlights: • The change in neutronic parameters to the use of nanofluid as coolant is presented. • Nanoparticle deposition on fuel clad is investigated. • Radial and axial local power peaking factors are presented. • ZrO 2 and Al 2 O 3 have the lowest rate of K eff drop off. - Abstract: Nowadays, many efforts have been made to improve the efficiency of nuclear power plants. One of which is use of the dual cooled annular fuel which is an internally and externally cooled annular fuel with many advantages in heat transfer characteristics. Another is the use of nanoparticle/water (nanofluid) as coolant. In this paper, by combining these two methods, the change in neutronic parameters of the VVER-1000 nuclear reactor core with dual cooled annular fuel attributable to the use of nanoparticle/water (nanofluid) as coolant is presented. Optimization of type and volume fraction of nanoparticles in water that affect the safety enhancement of core primary parameters is intended in this study. Reactivity change, radial and axial local power peaking factors (LPPF), and the consequence of nanoparticle deposition on fuel clad are investigated. As a result of changing the effective multiplication factor and PPF calculations for six types of nanoparticles which have been studied extensively for their heat transfer properties including Alumina, Aluminum, Copper oxide, Copper, Titania, and Zirconia with different volume fractions, it can be concluded that at low concentration (0.03 volume fraction), Zirconia and Alumina are the optimum nanoparticles for normal operation. The maximum radial and axial PPF are found to be invariant to the type of nanofluid at low volume fractions. With an increase in nanoparticle deposition thickness on the outer and inner clad, a flux and K eff depression occurred and ZrO 2 and Al 2 O 3 have the lowest rate of drop off.

Thorium fuel for light water reactors - reducing proliferation potential of nuclear power fuel cycle

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Galperin, A; Radkowski, A [Ben-Gurion Univ. of the Negev, Beersheba (Israel)

1996-12-01

The proliferation potential of the light water reactor fuel cycle may be significantly reduced by utilization of thorium as a fertile component of the nuclear fuel. The main challenge of Th utilization is to design a core and a fuel cycle, which would be proliferation-resistant and economically feasible. This challenge is met by the Radkowsky Thorium Reactor (RTR) concept. So far the concept has been applied to a Russian design of a 1,000 MWe pressurized water reactor, known as a WWER-1000, and designated as VVERT. The following are the main results of the preliminary reference design: * The amount of Pu contained in the RTR spent fuel stockpile is reduced by 80% in comparison with a VVER of a current design. * The isotopic composition of the RTR-Pu greatly increases the probability of pre-initiation and yield degradation of a nuclear explosion. An extremely large Pu-238 content causes correspondingly large heat emission, which would complicate the design of an explosive device based on RTR-Pu. The economic incentive to reprocess and reuse the fissile component of the RTR spent fuel is decreased. The once-through cycle is economically optimal for the RTR core and cycle. To summarize all the items above: the replacement of a standard (U-based) fuel for nuclear reactors of current generation by the RTR fuel will provide an inherent barrier for nuclear weapon proliferation. This inherent barrier, in combination with existing safeguard measures and procedures is adequate to unambiguously disassociate civilian nuclear power from military nuclear power. * The RTR concept is applied to existing power plants to assure its economic feasibility. Reductions in waste disposal requirements, as well as in natural U and fabrication expenses, as compared to a standard WWER fuel, provide approximately 20% reduction in fuel cycle (authors).

New code for VVER-440 loading pattern design

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bajgl, J.; Lehmann, M.

1999-01-01

This paper describes the main attributes of a new computer program OPTIMAL used for loading pattern design in Dukovany NPP (4 reactors VVER-440). We have been developed this program in Nuclear Research Institute Rez since 1994 on the base of special contract between Dukovany NPP and Nuclear Research Institute Rez. General information about the optimisation methodology is given in the first part. The organisation of the optimisation process is described in part 2. Construction of the optimisation functional is shown in part 3. Procedures used during one-cycle optimisation are described in part 4. (Authors)

OECD/DOE/CEA VVER-1000 Coolant Transient Benchmark. Summary Record of the Third Workshop (V1000-CT3)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

2005-01-01

The overall objective of the VVER-1000 coolant transient (V1000CT) benchmark is to assess computer codes used in the safety analysis of VVER power plants, specifically for their use in analysis of reactivity transients in a VVER-1000. The V1000CT benchmark consists of two phases: V1000CT-1 is a simulation of the switching on of one main coolant pump (MCP) when the other three MCPs are in operation, and V1000CT-2 concerns calculation of coolant mixing tests and main steam line break (MSLB) scenarios. Each of the two phases contains three exercises. The reference problem chosen for simulation in Phase 1 is a MCP switching on when the other three main coolant pumps are in operation in a VVER-1000. This event is characterized by rapid increase in the flow through the core resulting in a coolant temperature decrease, which is spatially dependent. This leads to insertion of spatially distributed positive reactivity due to the modelled feedback mechanisms and non-symmetric power distribution. Simulation of the transient requires evaluation of core response from a multi-dimensional perspective (coupled three-dimensional neutronics/core thermal-hydraulics) supplemented by a one-dimensional simulation of the remainder of the reactor coolant system. Three exercises are defined in the framework of Phase 1: a) Exercise 1 - Point kinetics plant simulation; b) Exercise 2 - Coupled 3-D neutronics/core thermal-hydraulics response evaluation; c) Exercise 3 - Best-estimate coupled 3-D core/plant system transient modelling. In addition to the measured (experiment) scenario, extreme calculation scenarios were defined in the frame of Exercise 3 for better testing 3-D neutronics/thermal-hydraulics techniques. The proposals concerned: rod ejection simulations with scram set points at two different power levels. The technical topics presented at this workshop were: Review of the benchmark activities after the 2. Workshop; - Discussion of participant's feedback and introduced modifications

Design and implementation of the control system for nuclear plant VVER-1000. Instrumentation (program technical complexes)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Siora, A.; Tokarev, V.; Bakhmach, E.

2004-01-01

Program-technical complexes (PTC) are designed as control and protection systems in water-moderated atomic reactors, including emergency and preventive systems, automatic control, unloading, reactor capacity limitation and accelerated preventive protection systems. Utilization of programmable logic integrated circuits from world leading manufacturers makes the complexes simple in structure, compact, with low energy demands and mutually independent for key and supporting functions The results of PTC assessment and implementation in Ukraine are outlined. Opportunities for a future development of RADIJ company in the area of control and protection systems for VVER reactors are also discussed

CORONA project -contribution to VVER nuclear education and training

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ilieva, M.; Miteva, R.; Takov, T.

2016-01-01

CORONA Project is established to stimulate the transnational mobility and lifelong learning amongst VVER end users. The project aims to provide a special purpose structure for training of specialists and to maintain the nuclear expertise by gathering the existing and generating new knowledge in the VVER area. CORONA Project consists of two parts: CORONA I (2011-2014) ''Establishment of a regional center of competence for VVER technology and Nuclear Applications'', co-financed by the Framework Program 7 of the European Union (EU) and CORONA II (2015-2018) ''Enhancement of training capabilities in VVER technology through establishment of VVER training academy'', co-financed by HORIZON 2020, EURATOM 2014-2015. The selected form of the CORONA Academy, together with the online availability of the training opportunities will allow trainees from different locations to access the needed knowledge on demand. The project will target also new-comers in VVER community like Vietnam, Turkey, Belarus, etc. (authors)

The safety of nuclear power plants in Eastern Europe

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hoehn, J.; Niehaus, F.

1997-01-01

Nuclear power plant operators and nuclear organizations from the West and from the East cooperate at many levels. The G7 and G24 nations have taken it upon themselves to improve the safety of Eastern nuclear power plants. The European Union has launched support programs, i.e. Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States (Tacis) and Pologne-Hangrie: Aide a la Reconstruction Economique (Phare), and founded the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe operate nuclear power plants equipped with VVER-type pressurized water reactors and those equipped with RBMK-type reactors. The safety of these two types of plants is judged very differently. Among the VVER plants, a distinction is made between the older and the more recent 440 MWe lines and the 1000 MWe line. Especially the RBMK plants (Chernobyl-type plants) differ greatly as a function of location and year of construction. Even though they do not meet Western safety standards and at best can be backfitted up to a certain level, it must yet be assumed that they will remain in operation to the end of their projected service lives for economic reasons. (orig.) [de

The Paks Nuclear Power Station

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Erdosi, N.; Szabo, L.

1978-01-01

As the first stage in the construction of the Paks Nuclear Power Station, two units of 440 MW(e) each will be built. They are operated with two coolant loops each. The reactor units are VVER 440 type water-moderated PWR type heterogeneous power reactors designed in the Soviet Union and manufactured in Czechoslovakia. Each unit operates two Soviet-made K-220-44 steam turbines and Hungarian-made generators of an effective output of 220 MW. The output of the transformer units - also of Hungarian made - is 270 MVA. The radiation protection system of the nuclear power station is described. Protection against system failures is accomplished by specially designed equipment and security measures especially within the primary circuit. Some data on the power station under construction are given. (R.P.)

Basket criticality design of a dual purpose cask for VVER 1000 spent fuel assemblies

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Rezaeian, Mahdi [Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Kamali, Jamshid [Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of)

2016-12-15

Dual purpose cask technology is one of the most prominent options for interim storage of spent fuels following their removal from reactors. Criticality safety of the spent fuel assemblies are ensured by design of the basket within these casks. In this study, a set of criticality design calculations of a dual purpose cask for 12 VVER 1000 spent fuel assemblies of Bushehr nuclear power plant were carried out. The basket material of borated stainless steel with 0.5 to 2.5 wt% of boron and Boral (Al-B{sub 4}C) with 1.5 to 40 wt% of boron carbide, were investigated and the minimum required receptacle pitch of the basket was determined. Using the calculated receptacle pitch of the basket, the minimum required diameter of the cavity could be established.

Nuclear power reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

1982-11-01

After an introduction and general explanation of nuclear power the following reactor types are described: magnox thermal reactor; advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR); pressurised water reactor (PWR); fast reactors (sodium cooled); boiling water reactor (BWR); CANDU thermal reactor; steam generating heavy water reactor (SGHWR); high temperature reactor (HTR); Leningrad (RMBK) type water-cooled graphite moderated reactor. (U.K.)

Increased SRP reactor power

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

MacAfee, I.M.

1983-01-01

Major changes in the current reactor hydraulic systems could be made to achieve a total of about 1500 MW increase of reactor power for P, K, and C reactors. The changes would be to install new, larger heat exchangers in the reactor buildings to increase heat transfer area about 24%, to increase H 2 O flow about 30% per reactor, to increase D 2 O flow 15 to 18% per reactor, and increase reactor blanket gas pressure from 5 psig to 10 psig. The increased reactor power is possible because of reduced inlet temperature of reactor coolant, increased heat removal capacity, and increased operating pressure (larger margin from boiling). The 23% reactor power increase, after adjustment for increased off-line time for reactor reloading, will provide a 15% increase of production from P, K, and C reactors. Restart of L Reactor would increase SRP production 33%

Experimental study of hydrodynamically induced vibrational processes in VVER-440 fuel assemblies

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Solonin, V.I.; Perevezentsev, V.V.; Rekshnya, N.F.; Krapivtsev, V.G.

2000-01-01

Investigations are described of hydrodynamically induced vibrations in a single fuel assembly of a VVER-440 reactor, performed on a full-scale model installed in a closed loop filled with distilled water; the model fuel elements contained simulators of fuel pellets. Data on hydrodynamic loads were obtained by measuring pressure oscillations along the height of the fuel assembly case. Results of the measurements are presented in graphs and are discussed in some detail. (A.K.)

EPR (European Pressurized Reactor)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

2015-01-01

This document presents the EPR (European Pressurized Reactor), a modernised version of PWRs which uses nuclear fission. It indicates to which category it belongs (third generation). It briefly describes its operation: recalls on nuclear fission, electricity production in a nuclear reactor. It presents and comments its characteristics: power, thermal efficiency, redundant systems for safety control, double protective enclosure, expected lifetime, use of MOX fuel, modular design. It discusses economic stakes (expected higher nuclear electricity competitiveness, but high construction costs), and safety challenges (design characteristics, critics by nuclear safety authorities about the safety data processing system). It presents the main involved actors (Areva, EDF) and competitors in the field of advanced reactors (Rosatom with its VVER 1200, General Electric with its ABWR and its ESBWR, Mitsubishi with its APWR, Westinghouse with its AP100) while outlining the importance of certifications and delays to obtain them. After having evoked key data on EPR fuel consumption, it indicates reactors under construction, evokes potential markets and perspectives

Framatome advanced nuclear power-benefits for our clients from the new company

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Weber, P.

2001-01-01

Framatome ANP (Advanced Nuclear Power) merges the complementary strengths of two global nuclear industry leaders Framatome and Siemens - offering clients the best technological solutions for safe, reliable and economical plant performance. With a combined workforce of 13,300 skilled individuals, Framatome ANP is now the nuclear industry's leading supplier. Serving as Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for more than 90 reactors that provide about 30% of the world's total installed nuclear power capacity, our experienced resources remain focused on the local needs of individual clients, wherever in the world they may be. The Company main business used to be turnkey construction of complete Nuclear Power plants, BWR and PWR capabilities, heavy equipment manufacturing, comprehensive I and C capabilities, and also expertise and knowledge of VVER. Framatome ANP will benefit in all of its fields of activity of the experience gained through Framatome and Siemens' collaboration on the next generation reactor, the EPR, as well as on steam generators replacements and or modernization of VVER. Framatome ANP nuclear fuel designs for both PWR and BWR plants provide innovative features and world-leading performance. Framatome ANP is organized according a matrix organization with: - 4 Business Groups (Project and Engineering, Service, Nuclear Fuel, Mechanical Equipment) - 3 Regional Divisions (Framatome Advanced Nuclear Power S.A.S., France; Framatome Advanced Nuclear Power GmbH, Germany; Framatome Advanced Nuclear Power Inc., USA). By 30th January 2001 Siemens Nuclear Power GmbH, founded in 2000 as successor of the Nuclear Division of Siemens Power Generation Group (KWU), was renamed to Framatome Advanced Nuclear Power GmbH forming the German part of the world wide acting company. Over the past 40 years 23 nuclear power plants all around the world - not only pressurized and boiling water reactors, but also two heavy-watermoderated reactors have been designed, constructed and

Structural Integrity Assessment of VVER-1000 RPV under Accidental Cool down Transients

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Shrivastav, V.; Sen, R.N.; Yadav, R.S.

2012-01-01

Corrosion, Fatigue and Irradiation embrittlement are the major degradation mechanisms responsible for ageing of RPV (and its internals) of a Pressurized Water Reactor. While corrosion and fatigue can generate cracks, irradiation damage can lead to brittle fracture initiating from these cracks. Ageing in nuclear power plants needs to be managed so as to ensure that design functions remain available throughout the life of the plant. From safety perspective, this implies that ageing degradation of systems, structures and components important to safety remain within acceptable limits. Reactor Pressure Vessel has been identified as the highest priority key component in plant life management for Pressurized Water Reactors. Therefore special attention is required to ensure its structural integrity during its lifetime. In this paper, structural integrity assessment for typical VVER-1000 RPV is carried out under severe accidental cool down transients using the Finite Element Method. Three different accidental scenarios are postulated and safety of the vessel is conservatively assessed under these transients using the Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics approach. Transient thermo mechanical stress analysis of the core belt region of the RPV is carried out in presence of postulated cracks and stress intensity factors are calculated and compared with the material fracture toughness to assess the structural integrity of the vessel. The paper also include some parametric analyses to justify the methodology. (author)

VVER-1000 main steam line break analysis using the coupled code system DYN3D/ATHLET

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kliem, Soeren; Hoehne, Thomas; Rohde, Ulrich; Weiss, Frank-Peter; Kozmenkov, Yaroslav

2008-01-01

Calculations using the coupled code system DYN3D/ATHLET were performed in the frame of the OECD/NEA MSLB benchmark for a VVER-1000 reactor. The coolant mixing inside the reactor pressure vessel was treated using a validated empirical mixing model implemented into the DYN3D/ATHLET code. Using very conservative boundary conditions (reduced scram worth, two stuck rods, running MCP throughout the whole transient) a return-to-power was predicted. For the assessment of the empirical mixing model a time dependent calculation using the computational fluid dynamics code CFX-10 was performed. For that analysis, a detailed model of the reactor pressure vessel consisting of the inlets nozzles, downcomer, lower plenum and a part of the core and having 4.67 million unstructured tetra cell elements was used. For the considered case with running main coolant pumps, this calculation shows a sector formation at the core inlet with a certain amount of mixing at the edges of the sector. A core calculation using these CFX results as boundary conditions predicted also a return-to-power with a maximum value being about 200 MW lower than in the coupled code calculation. This variation calculation confirms the applicability of the empirical mixing model. The comparison shows also, that in this way results with a reasonable degree of conservatism can be obtained. (authors)

Press travel to the Mochovce power plant in Slovakia

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

1998-07-01

This press dossier gives, first, a general presentation of the Mochovce power plant of the republic of Slovakia (history, technical characteristics, safety aspects, technical particularities of VVER 440/213 reactors (safety analysis, recent improvements), financing of the modernization project). Then, the activities of the Framatome group in central and eastern Europe are presented (partnerships, cooperation agreements and contracts). (J.S.)

Reactor plant for Belene NPP completion

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Dragunov, Yu. G.; Ryzhov, S. B.; Ermakov, D. N.; Repin, A. I.

2004-01-01

Construction of 'Belene' NPP was started at the end of 80-ties using project U-87 with V-320 reactor plant, general designer of this plant is OKB 'Gidropress'. At the beginning of 90-ties, on completing the considerable number of deliveries and performance of civil engineering work at the site the NPP construction was suspended. Nowadays, considering the state of affairs at the site and the work performed by Bulgarian Party on preservation of the equipment delivered, the most perspective is supposed to be implementation of the following versions in completing 'Belene' NPP: for completion of Unit 1 - reactor plant VVER-1000 on the basis of V-320 reactor with the maximum use of the delivered equipment (V-320M) having the extended service life and safety improvement; for Unit 2 - advanced reactor plant VVER-1000. For the upgraded reactor plant V-230M the basic solutions and characteristics are presented, as well as the calculated justification of strength and safety analyses, design of the reactor core and fuel cycle, instrumentation and control systems, application of the 'leak-before break' in the project and implementation of safety measures. For the modernised reactor plant V-392M the main characteristics and basic changes are presented, concerning reactor pressure vessel, steam generator, reactor coolant pump set. Design of NPP with the modernized reactor plant V-320M meets the up-to-date requirements and can be licensed for completion and operation. In the design of NPP with the advanced reactor plant the basic solutions and the equipment are used that are similar to those used in standard reactor plant V-320 and new one with VVER-1000 under construction and completion in Russia, and abroad. Compliance of reactor design with the up-to-date international requirements, considering the extended service life of the main equipment, shows its rather high potential for implementation during completion of 'Belene' NPP

Simulation of long-term cooling in the VVER-640 power plant after a large break LOKA on the PACTEL facility

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Banati, J.

2000-01-01

The present report gives a short introduction to the safety features of the new Russian VVER-640 reactor design. In order to analyze the complex thermal hydraulic phenomena during long-term cooling after a large-break LOCA, experiments will be carried out in the PACTEL facility. For preparation, pre-test calculations were performed using the RELAPS/MOD3.2 computer code. The main part of the report discusses the results obtained by the program. The structure and options used in the input deck, as well as the efforts of code application to the simulation of proposed experiments are reviewed. A short sensitivity study is provided on the calculated results. Finally, conclusions are drawn for the code capabilities to represent the expectable trends in the upcoming tests. (orig.)

Post-Test Analysis of 11% Break at PSB-VVER Experimental Facility using Cathare 2 Code

Science.gov (United States)

Sabotinov, Luben; Chevrier, Patrick

The best estimate French thermal-hydraulic computer code CATHARE 2 Version 2.5_1 was used for post-test analysis of the experiment “11% upper plenum break”, conducted at the large-scale test facility PSB-VVER in Russia. The PSB rig is 1:300 scaled model of VVER-1000 NPP. A computer model has been developed for CATHARE 2 V2.5_1, taking into account all important components of the PSB facility: reactor model (lower plenum, core, bypass, upper plenum, downcomer), 4 separated loops, pressurizer, horizontal multitube steam generators, break section. The secondary side is represented by recirculation model. A large number of sensitivity calculations has been performed regarding break modeling, reactor pressure vessel modeling, counter current flow modeling, hydraulic losses, heat losses. The comparison between calculated and experimental results shows good prediction of the basic thermal-hydraulic phenomena and parameters such as pressures, temperatures, void fractions, loop seal clearance, etc. The experimental and calculation results are very sensitive regarding the fuel cladding temperature, which show a periodical nature. With the applied CATHARE 1D modeling, the global thermal-hydraulic parameters and the core heat up have been reasonably predicted.

Reactor power control device

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Doi, Kazuyori.

1981-01-01

Purpose: To automatically control the BWR type reactor power by simple and short-time searching the load pattern nearest to the required pattern at a nuclear power plant side. Constitution: The reactor power is automatically regulated by periodical modifying of coefficients fitting to a reactor core model, according as a required load pattern. When a load requirement pattern is given, a simulator estimates the total power change and the axial power distribution change from a xenon density change output calculated by a xenon dynamic characteristic estimating device, and a load pattern capable of being realized is searched. The amount to be recirculated is controlled on the basis of the load patteren thus searched, and the operation of the BWR type reactor is automatically controlled at the side of the nuclear power plant. (Kamimura, M.)

Power control system in BWR type reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nishizawa, Yasuo.

1980-01-01

Purpose: To control the reactor power so that the power distribution can satisfy the limiting conditions, by regulating the reactor core flow rate while monitoring the power distribution in the reactor core of a BWR type reactor. Constitution: A power distribution monitor determines the power distribution for the entire reactor core based on the data for neutron flux, reactor core thermal power, reactor core flow rate and control rod pattern from the reactor and calculates the linear power density distribution. A power up ratio computing device computes the current linear power density increase ratio. An aimed power up ratio is determined by converting the electrical power up ratio transferred from a load demand input device into the reactor core thermal power up ratio. The present reactor core thermal power up ratio is subtracted from the limiting power up ratio and the difference is sent to an operation amount indicator and the reactor core flow rate is changed in a reactor core flow rate regulator, by which the reactor power is controlled. (Moriyama, K.)

Steam oxidation of Zr 1% Nb clads of VVER fuels in high temperature

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Solyanyj, V.I.; Bibilashvili, Yu.K.; Dranenko, V.V.; Levin, A.Ya.; Izrajlevskij, L.B.; Morozov, A.M.

1984-01-01

In a wide range of accident conditions processes of clad corrosion effected by steam are rather intensive and in many respects influence the safety of NPP and the after-accident dismantling of a reactor core. This paper discusses the results of comprehensive studies into corrosion behaviour of Zr 1%Nb clads of VVER-type fuels at high temperatures. These studies are a continuation of previous work and the base for the design modelling of corrosion processes

Calibration of RB reactor power

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sotic, O.; Markovic, H.; Ninkovic, M.; Strugar, P.; Dimitrijevic, Z.; Takac, S.; Stefanovic, D.; Kocic, A.; Vranic, S.

1976-09-01

The first and only calibration of RB reactor power was done in 1962, and the obtained calibration ratio was used irrespective of the lattice pitch and core configuration. Since the RB reactor is being prepared for operation at higher power levels it was indispensable to reexamine the calibration ratio, estimate its dependence on the lattice pitch, critical level of heavy water and thickness of the side reflector. It was necessary to verify the reliability of control and dosimetry instruments, and establish neutron and gamma dose dependence on reactor power. Two series of experiments were done in June 1976. First series was devoted to tests of control and dosimetry instrumentation and measurements of radiation in the RB reactor building dependent on reactor power. Second series covered measurement of thermal and epithermal neuron fluxes in the reactor core and calculation of reactor power. Four different reactor cores were chosen for these experiments. Reactor pitches were 8, 8√2, and 16 cm with 40, 52 and 82 fuel channels containing 2% enriched fuel. Obtained results and analysis of these results are presented in this document with conclusions related to reactor safe operation

Evaluation of the applicability of cladding deformation model in RELAP5/MOD3.2 code for VVER-1000 fuel

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Vorob'ev, Yu.; Zhabin, O.

2015-01-01

Applicability of cladding deformation model in RELAP5/MOD3.2 code is analyzed for VVER-1000 fuel cladding from Zr+1%Nb alloy. Experimental data and calculation model of fuel assembly channel of the core are used for this purpose. The model applicability is tested for the cladding temperature range from 600 to 1200 deg C and pressure range from 1 to 12 MPa. Evaluation results demonstrate limited applicability of built-in RELAP5/MOD3.2 cladding deformation model to the estimation of Zr+1%Nb cladding rupture conditions. The limitations found shall be considered in application of RELAP5/MOD3.2 cladding deformation model in the design-basis accident analysis of VVER reactors

Review of operational requirements with respect to PCMI in a VVER and the corresponding developments in the trans uranus code

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Van Uffelen, P.; Lassman, K.; Schubert, A.; Van der Laar, J.; Gyori, C.; Elenkov, D.; Hatala, B.

2005-01-01

Since the mid-90's, a version of the TRANSURANUS code has been under development for the analysis of the fuel rod performance in Russian-type VVER reactors. This required, among other things, the implementation of specific thermal and mechanical properties for Nb-containing cladding. The first part of the paper summarises the present status of the models for normal operating conditions. Further refinements will include the correlation between the effective creep strain rate and the effective stress. In the second part of the paper we consider accident conditions for which new correlations have been developed, including plastic deformation, high-temperature oxidation and burst of the cladding. These conditions have been implemented in TRANSURANUS and verified by means of burst tests for as-received, oxidised and irradiated cladding specimens. Finally, an outlook of the planned activities for code development and validation, including experiments regarding PCMI-related safety criteria for VVER reactors, is presented. (author)

Reactor power monitoring device

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Dogen, Ayumi; Ozawa, Michihiro.

1983-01-01

Purpose: To significantly improve the working efficiency of a nuclear reactor by reflecting the control rod history effect on thermal variants required for the monitoring of the reactor operation. Constitution: An incore power distribution calculation section reads the incore neutron fluxes detected by neutron detectors disposed in the reactor to calculate the incore power distribution. A burnup degree distribution calculation section calculates the burnup degree distribution in the reactor based on the thus calculated incore power distribution. A control rod history date store device supplied with the burnup degree distribution renews the stored control rod history data based on the present control rod pattern and the burnup degree distribution. Then, thermal variants of the nuclear reactor are calculated based on the thus renewed control rod history data. Since the control rod history effect is reflected on the thermal variants required for the monitoring of the reactor operation, the working efficiency of the nuclear reactor can be improved significantly. (Seki, T.)

Analysis of the VVER-1000 coolant transient benchmark phase 1 with the code system RELAP5/PARCS

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Victor Hugo Sanchez Espinoza

2005-01-01

Full text of publication follows: As part of the reactor dynamics activities of FZK/IRS, the qualification of best-estimate coupled code systems for reactor safety evaluations is a key step toward improving their prediction capability and acceptability. The VVER-1000 Coolant Transient Benchmark Phase 1 represents an excellent opportunity to validate the simulation capability of the coupled code system RELAP5/PACRS regarding both the thermal hydraulic plant response (RELAP5) using measured data obtained during commissioning tests at the Kozloduy nuclear power plant unit 6 and the neutron kinetics models of PARCS for hexagonal geometries. The Phase 1 is devoted to the analysis of the switching on of one main coolant pump while the other three pumps are in operation. It includes the following exercises: (a) investigation of the integral plant response using a best-estimate thermal hydraulic system code with a point kinetics model (b) analysis of the core response for given initial and transient thermal hydraulic boundary conditions using a coupled code system with 3D-neutron kinetics model and (c) investigation of the integral plant response using a best-estimate coupled code system with 3D-neutron kinetics. Already before the test, complex flow conditions exist within the RPV e.g. coolant mixing in the upper plenum caused by the reverse flow through the loop-3 with the stopped pump. The test is initiated by switching on the main coolant pump of loop-3 that leads to a reversal of the flow through the respective piping. After about 13 s the mass flow rate through this loop reaches values comparable with the one of the other loops. During this time period, the increased primary coolant flow causes a reduction of the core averaged coolant temperature and thus an increase of the core power. Later on, the power stabilizes at a level higher than the initial power. In this analysis, special attention is paid on the prediction of the spatial asymmetrical core cooling during

YKAe Research programme on nuclear power plant systems behaviour and operational aspects of safety 1990-1994, Final report

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mattila, L.; Vanttola, T.

1995-04-01

The research programme on Nuclear Power Plant Systems Behaviour and Operational Aspects of Safety was carried out between 1990 and 1994. In the field of Safe operational margins of nuclear fuel and reactor core, an up-to-date steady-state fuel performance model was validated for higher burn-ups and well-characterized VVER fuel experiments were carried out. A comprehensive reactor analysis code system was extended and validated for complex 3-D phenomena, such as ATWS and boron dilution transients. Advanced hydraulics methods were added to the dynamics codes. Experiments were carried out with PACTEL, the most comprehensive thermal-hydraulic test facility for VVER-440-type reactors worldwide. For example, a series of natural circulation tests were provided for the first VVER-related international standard problem of the OECD/NEA. Advanced foreign computer codes for severe accidents were evaluated and modified for the needs of Finnish power plants. Specific progress was made in modelling the reflooding of an overheated core and in the structural analysis of a pressure vessel under corium load, as well as in experimental and theoretical studies of aerosol and hydrogen behaviour. Fire modelling was improved by implementing advanced calculation methods and by validating them against our own experiments and international test data. Techniques in living probabilistic safety assessment and risk decision-making were refined in pilot applications for continuous monitoring, follow-up and management of risks of an operating power plant. In the area of human reliability and organizational performance, factors important for the continuous development of the competence of control room operator teams and plant maintenance staff were identified. (237 refs., 75 figs., 13 tabs.)

Verification of the enrichment of fresh VVER-440 fuel assemblies at NPP Paks

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Almasia, I.; Hlavathya, Z.; Nguyena, C. T. [Institute of Isotopes, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, (Hungary); others, and

2012-06-15

A Non Destructive Analysis (NDA) method was developed for the verification of {sup 235}U enrichment of both homogeneous and profiled VVER-440 reactor fresh fuel assemblies by means of gamma spectrometry. A total of ca. 30 assemblies were tested, five of which were homogeneous, with {sup 235}U enrichment in the range 1,6% to 3,6%, while the others were profiled with pins of 3,3% to 4,4% enrichment. Two types of gamma detectors were used for the test measurements: 2 coaxial HPGe detectors and a miniature CdZnTe (CZT) detector fitting into the central tube of the assemblies. It was therefore possible to obtain information from both the inside and the outside of the assemblies. It was shown that it is possible to distinguish between different types of assemblies within a reasonable measurement time (about 1000 sec). For the HPGe measurements the assemblies had to be lifted out from their storage rack, while for the CZT detector measurements the assemblies could be left at their storage position, as it was shown that the neighbouring assemblies do not affect measurement inside the assemblies' central tube. The measured values were compared to Monte Carlo simulations carried out using the MCNP code, and a recommendation for the optimal approach to verify the {sup 235}U enrichment of fresh VVER-440 reactor fuel assemblies is suggested.

PSB-VVER counterpart experiment simulating a small cold leg break LOCA

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Blinkov, V.N.; Melikhov, O.I.; Kapustin, A.V.; Lipatov, I.A.; Dremin, G.I.; Nikonov, S.M.; Rovnov, A.A.; Elkin, I.V.; Pylev, S.S.

2005-01-01

Full text of publication follows: An experiment simulating a small break LOCA has been performed in PSB-VVER facility, under PSB-VVER OECD Project. The test is intended to be a counterpart one to an experiment performed in the LOBI integral test facility. The objectives of the PSB-VVER small cold leg break test are: to study VVER-1000 thermal hydraulic response following a small break in the cold leg, to provide data for code assessment regarding phenomena indicated in the VVER-1000 code validation matrix and to study the scaling effect. The scenario for the PSB-VVER experiment has been designed taking the LOBI BL-34 test as reference. The ratio of primary system volumes (without volume of the pressurizer and the surge line) has been chosen to scale the reference experiment conditions and to generate the conditions of PSB-VVER cold leg break experiment. The resulting conditions are compared with the LOBI cold leg break test conditions by means of different counterpart test criteria. Comparing the two experiments in terms of the criteria shows that basic requirements to the counterpart test are fulfilled. A pretest analysis with RELAP5/MOD3.2 code has shown that the PSBVVER small break experiment is expected to show the same relevant phenomena and main events as the LOBI BL-34 test. The predicted PSB-VVER primary pressure is very close to that measured in the LOBI facility. The measured pressure in the PSB-VVER primary system has turned out to be very close to that registered in LOBI BL-34 test. This verifies the approach used for developing the conditions of the PSB-VVER counterpart test. The experiment results and the RELAP5/MOD3.2 pretest calculation are in good agreement. A posttest calculation of the experiment with RELAP5/MOD3.2 code has been performed in order to assess the codes capability to simulate the phenomena relevant to the test. The code has shown a reasonable prediction of the phenomena measured in the experiment. (authors)

PSB-VVER counterpart experiment simulating a small cold leg break LOCA

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Blinkov, V.N.; Melikhov, O.I.; Kapustin, A.V.; Lipatov, I.A.; Dremin, G.I.; Nikonov, S.M.; Rovnov, A.A. [Elektrogorsk Research and Engineering Center, EREC, Bezymiannaja Street, 6, Elektrogorsk, Moscow Region, 142530 (Russian Federation); Elkin, I.V.; Pylev, S.S. [NSI RRC ' Kurchatov Institute' , Kurchatov Sq., 1, Moscow, 123182 (Russian Federation)

2005-07-01

Full text of publication follows: An experiment simulating a small break LOCA has been performed in PSB-VVER facility, under PSB-VVER OECD Project. The test is intended to be a counterpart one to an experiment performed in the LOBI integral test facility. The objectives of the PSB-VVER small cold leg break test are: to study VVER-1000 thermal hydraulic response following a small break in the cold leg, to provide data for code assessment regarding phenomena indicated in the VVER-1000 code validation matrix and to study the scaling effect. The scenario for the PSB-VVER experiment has been designed taking the LOBI BL-34 test as reference. The ratio of primary system volumes (without volume of the pressurizer and the surge line) has been chosen to scale the reference experiment conditions and to generate the conditions of PSB-VVER cold leg break experiment. The resulting conditions are compared with the LOBI cold leg break test conditions by means of different counterpart test criteria. Comparing the two experiments in terms of the criteria shows that basic requirements to the counterpart test are fulfilled. A pretest analysis with RELAP5/MOD3.2 code has shown that the PSBVVER small break experiment is expected to show the same relevant phenomena and main events as the LOBI BL-34 test. The predicted PSB-VVER primary pressure is very close to that measured in the LOBI facility. The measured pressure in the PSB-VVER primary system has turned out to be very close to that registered in LOBI BL-34 test. This verifies the approach used for developing the conditions of the PSB-VVER counterpart test. The experiment results and the RELAP5/MOD3.2 pretest calculation are in good agreement. A posttest calculation of the experiment with RELAP5/MOD3.2 code has been performed in order to assess the codes capability to simulate the phenomena relevant to the test. The code has shown a reasonable prediction of the phenomena measured in the experiment. (authors)

Rolls-Royce successful modernization of safety-critical Instrumentation and Control (I and C) equipment at the Dukovany VVER 440/213 Nuclear Power Plant, based on SPINLINE 3 platform

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Rebreyend, P.; Burel, J.P.; Spoc, J.; Karasek, A.

2010-01-01

Rolls-Royce has provided on-time delivery of a substantial safety-critical I and C overhaul for four Nuclear reactors operated by Czech Republic utility, CEZ a.s. This nine-year project is considered to be one of the largest I and C modernization projects in the world. The Dukovany VVER 440 I and C modernization project and its key success factors are profiled in this paper. The project is in the final stages with the last unit to be completed in 2009. Beginning in September 2000, the project is in compliance with the initial schedule. Rolls-Royce has been designing and manufacturing I and C solutions dedicated to the implementation of safety and safety-related functions in nuclear power plants (NPPs) for more than 30 years. Though the early solutions were non-software-based, since 1984 software-based solutions for safety I and C functions have been deployed in operating NPPs across France and 15 other countries. The Rolls-Royce platform is suitable for implementation of safety I and C functions in new NPPs, as well as in the modernization of safety equipment in existing plants. CEZ a.s. is a major electricity supplier for the national grid. At Dukovany, CEZ a.s. operates four units of VVER-440/213-type reactors producing one quarter of CEZ a.s. electricity production. The first of these units was connected to the grid in 1985. Since the year 2000, the nine-year modernization program has been underway at Dukovany, at a cost of more than 200 million Euros. The equipment replacement was implemented during regular, planned outages of the original equipment and systems. After an international bidding phase, CEZ a.s. awarded a contract to Skoda JS for general engineering and project management. Individual subcontracts were then signed between Skoda JS and a consortium between Rolls-Royce and Areva for modernization of the safety systems, including the Reactor Protection System (RPS), the Reactor Control System (RCS), and the Post-Accident Monitoring System (PAMS). Two

Reactor power control method upon accidents of electrical power system

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hirose, Masao.

1983-01-01

Purpose: To enable to continue the operation of a BWR type reactor by avoiding the scram while suppressing the reactor power, just after the external disturbance such as earth-trouble in power-transmission network. Method: Steep power drop of an electrical generator is to be detected not only by a current-type power-load-unbalance relay but also with a power-type power-load-unbalance-relay. If steep power-drop was detected by the latter relay, a previously selected control rod is rapidly inserted into the reactor. In this way, in the case where there is a possibility of the reactor scram, the scram can be avoided by suppressing the reactor power, thus the reactor operation can be continued. (Kamimura, M.)

Power reactors in member states

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

1975-01-01

This is the first issue of a periodical computer-based listing of civilian nuclear power reactors in the Member States of the IAEA, presenting the situation as of 1 April 1975. It is intended as a replacement for the Agency's previous annual publication of ''Power and Research Reactors in Member States''. In the new format, the listing contains more information about power reactors in operation, under construction, planned and shut down. As far as possible all the basic design data relating to reactors in operation have been included. In future these data will be included also for other power reactors, so that the publication will serve to give a clear picture of the technical progress achieved. Test and research reactors and critical facilities are no longer listed. Of interest to nuclear power planners, nuclear system designers, nuclear plant operators and interested professional engineers and scientists

3D analysis of the reactivity insertion accident in VVER-1000

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Abdullayev, A. M.; Zhukov, A. I.; Slyeptsov, S. M. [NSC Kharkov Inst. for Physics and Technology, 1, Akademicheskaya Str., Kharkov 61108 (Ukraine)

2012-07-01

Fuel parameters such as peak enthalpy and temperature during rod ejection accident are calculated. The calculations are performed by 3D neutron kinetics code NESTLE and 3D thermal-hydraulic code VIPRE-W. Both hot zero power and hot full power cases were studied for an equilibrium cycle with Westinghouse hex fuel in VVER-1000. It is shown that the use of 3D methodology can significantly increase safety margins for current criteria and met future criteria. (authors)

Aspects of using a best-estimate approach for VVER safety analysis in reactivity initiated accidents

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ovdiienko, Iurii; Bilodid, Yevgen; Ieremenko, Maksym [State Scientific and Technical Centre on Nuclear and Radiation, Safety (SSTC N and RS), Kyiv (Ukraine); Loetsch, Thomas [TUEV SUED Industrie Service GmbH, Energie und Systeme, Muenchen (Germany)

2016-09-15

At present time, Ukraine faces the problem of small margins of acceptance criteria in connection with the implementation of a conservative approach for safety evaluations. The problem is particularly topical conducting feasibility analysis of power up-rating for Ukrainian nuclear power plants. Such situation requires the implementation of a best-estimate approach on the basis of an uncertainty analysis. For some kind of accidents, such as loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA), the best estimate approach is, more or less, developed and established. However, for reactivity initiated accident (RIA) analysis an application of best estimate method could be problematical. A regulatory document in Ukraine defines a nomenclature of neutronics calculations and so called ''generic safety parameters'' which should be used as boundary conditions for all VVER-1000 (V-320) reactors in RIA analysis. In this paper the ideas of uncertainty evaluations of generic safety parameters in RIA analysis in connection with the use of the 3D neutron kinetic code DYN3D and the GRS SUSA approach are presented.

Reactor power reduction system and method

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bruno, S.J.; Dunn, S.A.; Raber, M.

1978-01-01

A method of operating a nuclear power reactor is disclosed which enables an accelerated power reduction of the reactor without completely shutting the reactor down. The method includes monitoring the incidents which, upon their occurrence, would require an accelerated power reduction in order to maintain the reactor in a safe operation mode; calculating the power reduction required on the occurrence of such an incident; determining a control rod insertion sequence for the normal operation of the reactor, said sequence being chosen to optimize reactor power capability; selecting the number of control rods necessary to respond to the accelerated power reduction demand, said selection being made according to a priority determined by said control rod insertion sequence; and inserting said selected control rods into the reactor core. 11 claims, 13 figures

Application of Integral Ex-Core and Differential In-Core Neutron Measurements for Adjustment of Fuel Burn-Up Distributions in VVER-1000

Science.gov (United States)

Borodkin, Pavel G.; Borodkin, Gennady I.; Khrennikov, Nikolay N.

2010-10-01

The paper deals with calculational and semi-analytical evaluations of VVER-1000 reactor core neutron source distributions and their influence on measurements and calculations of the integral through-vessel neutron leakage. Time-integrated neutron source distributions used for DORT calculations were prepared by two different approaches based on a) calculated fuel burn-up (standard routine procedure) and b) in-core measurements by means of SPD & TC (new approach). Taking into account that fuel burn-up distributions in operating VVER may be evaluated now by analytical methods (calculations) only it is needed to develop new approaches for testing and correction of calculational evaluations. Results presented in this paper allow to consider a reverse task of alternative estimation of fuel burn-up distributions. The approach proposed is based on adjustment (fitting) of time-integrated neutron source distributions, and hence fuel burn-up patterns in some part of reactor core, on the base of ex-core neutron leakage measurement, neutron-physical calculation and in-core SPD & TC measurement data.

Generalities about nuclear reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Jaouen, C.; Beroux, P.

2012-01-01

From Zoe, the first nuclear reactor, till the current EPR, the French nuclear industry has always advanced by profiting from the feedback from dozens of years of experience and operations, in particular by drawing lessons from the most significant events in its history, such as the Fukushima accident. The new generations of reactors must improve safety and economic performance so that the industry maintain its legitimacy and its share in the production of electricity. This article draws the history of nuclear power in France, gives a brief description of the pressurized water reactor design, lists the technical features of the different versions of PWR that operate in France and compares them with other types of reactors. The feedback experience concerning safety, learnt from the major nuclear accidents Three Miles Island (1979), Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011) is also detailed. Today there are 26 third generation reactors being built in the world: 4 EPR (1 in Finland, 1 in France and 2 in China); 2 VVER-1200 in Russia, 8 AP-1000 (4 in China and 4 in the Usa), 8 APR-1400 (4 in Korea and 4 in UAE), and 4 ABWR (2 in Japan and 2 in Taiwan)

Feasible reactor power cutback logic development for an integral reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Han, Soon-Kyoo; Lee, Chung-Chan; Choi, Suhn; Kang, Han-Ok

2013-01-01

Major features of integral reactors that have been developed around the world recently are simplified operating systems and passive safety systems. Even though highly simplified control system and very reliable components are utilized in the integral reactor, the possibility of major component malfunction cannot be ruled out. So, feasible reactor power cutback logic is required to cope with the malfunction of components without inducing reactor trip. Simplified reactor power cutback logic has been developed on the basis of the real component data and operational parameters of plant in this study. Due to the relatively high rod worth of the integral reactor the control rod assembly drop method which had been adapted for large nuclear power plants was not desirable for reactor power cutback of the integral reactor. Instead another method, the control rod assembly control logic of reactor regulating system controls the control rod assembly movements, was chosen as an alternative. Sensitivity analyses and feasibility evaluations were performed for the selected method by varying the control rod assembly driving speed. In the results, sensitivity study showed that the performance goal of reactor power cutback system could be achieved with the limited range of control rod assembly driving speed. (orig.)

Fusion of eastern and western technology in VVER 1000 NPP upgrade

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ubra, O.; Fleischhans, J.; Kveton, M.

1997-01-01

An extensive modernization program upgrading two units of VVER 1000 type of the Czech nuclear power plant (NPP) Temelin to meet the latest international standards is presented. The program is based primarily on combination of eastern and western technology and it has been implemented during plant construction. The NPP Temelin was originally designed according to the standards of the former Soviet Union. After a series of reviews in the 1990s, a decision was made by the Temelin management of upgrade the design of the plant, including the supply of fuel and instrumentation and control system by a western company. The adoption of western technology and practices has helped to solve a large number of IAEA safety issues related to design and operation of VVER 1000 NPP. Details on the current Temelin design and other related safety matters are presented

VVER 1000-NPP Temelin safety upgrading

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Fleischhans, J.; Ubra, O.

1995-01-01

A modernisation program upgrading Temelin plant to meet internationally adopted standard has been implemented during plant design and construction phases. The initial Czech-Russian design (primary system was of Russian design, secondary system was of Czech design) has been extensively modified and adapted to present western safety criteria and operational requirements. The goals are to achieve a high level of safety, reliability, availability and load-following ability. The load-following ability and response to grid frequency changes are very important for the Czech Republic, since the nuclear capacity represents a high proportion of the overall electrical system there. On the basis of IAEA OSART missions and Halliburton NUS audit results and in compliance with recommendations of The State Office for Nuclear Safety, Czech Power Company and Czech scientists and researchers a modernisation program project for Temelin has been carried out. It includes three main groups of VVER1000 MW unit innovations: - Modernization and upgrading of the safety and control systems. - Fuel replacement and modification of the reactor core. - Innovation of some components of the primary and secondary systems. The tenders for instrumentation and control system, nuclear fuel, diagnostic system and radiation monitoring system were issued to the world-well known suppliers. The US company Westinghouse Electric >Corporation (WEC) was selected to submit contract for the delivery of instrumentation and control system primary side diagnostic system and for the delivery of nuclear fuel. The contract was signed in 1993

Reactor power distribution monitor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hoizumi, Atsushi.

1986-01-01

Purpose: To grasp the margin for the limit value of the power distribution peaking factor inside the reactor under operation by using the reactor power distribution monitor. Constitution: The monitor is composed of the 'constant' file, (to store in-reactor power distributions obtained from analysis), TIP and thermocouple, lateral output distribution calibrating apparatus, axial output distribution synthesizer and peaking factor synthesizer. The lateral output distribution calibrating apparatus is used to make calibration by comparing the power distribution obtained from the thermocouples to the power distribution obtained from the TIP, and then to provide the power distribution lateral peaking factors. The axial output distribution synthesizer provides the power distribution axial peaking factors in accordance with the signals from the out-pile neutron flux detector. These axial and lateral power peaking factors are synthesized with high precision in the three-dimensional format and can be monitored at any time. (Kamimura, M.)

Safety research needs for Russian-designed reactors. Requirements situation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Brown, R. Allan; Holmstrom, Heikki; Reocreux, Michel; Schulz, Helmut; Liesch, Klaus; Santarossa, Giampiero; Hayamizu, Yoshitaka; Asmolov, Vladimir; Bolshov, Leonid; Strizhov, Valerii; Bougaenko, Sergei; Nikitin, Yuri N.; Proklov, Vladimir; Potapov, Alexandre; Kinnersly, Stephen R.; Voronin, Leonid M.; Honekamp, John R.; Frescura, Gianni M.; Maki, Nobuo; Reig, Javier; ); Bekjord, Eric S.; Rosinger, Herbert E.

1998-01-01

In June 1995, an OECD Support Group was set up to perform a broad study of the safety research needs of Russian-designed reactors. The emphasis of the study is on the VVER-type reactors in part because of the larger base of knowledge within the NEA Member countries related to LWRs. For the RBMKs, the study does not make the judgement that such reactors can be brought to acceptable levels of safety but focuses on near term efforts that can contribute to reducing the risk to the public. The need for the safety research must be evaluated in context of the lifetime of the reactors. The principal outcome of the work of the Support Group is the identification of a number of research topics which the members believe should receive priority attention over the next several years if risk levels are to be reduced and public safety enhanced. These appear in the Conclusions and Recommendations section of the report, and are the following: - The most important near-term need for VVER and RBMK safety research is to establish a sound technical basis for the emergency operating procedures used by the plant staff to prevent or halt the progression of accidents (i.e., Accident Management) and for plant safety improvements. - Co-operation of Western and Eastern experts should help to avoid East-West know-how gaps in the future, as safety technology continues to improve. - Safety research in Eastern countries will make an important contribution to public safety as it has in OECD countries. - RBMK safety research, including verification of codes, starts from a smaller base of experience than VVER, and is at an earlier stage of development. Technical Conclusions: - Research to improve human performance and operational safety of VVER and RBMK plants is extremely important. - VVER thermal-hydraulic and reactor physics research should focus on full validation of codes to VVER-specific features, and on extension of experimental data base. - Methods of assessing VVER pressure boundary

Qualification of the nuclear reactor core model DYN3D coupled to the thermohydraulic system code ATHLET, applied as an advanced tool for accident analysis of VVER-type reactors. Final report; Qualifizierung des Kernmodells DYN3D im Komplex mit dem Stoerfallcode ATHLET als fortgeschrittenes Werkzeug fuer die Stoerfallanalyse von WWER-Reaktoren. T. 1. Abschlussbericht

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Grundmann, U.; Kliem, S.; Krepper, E.; Mittag, S; Rohde, U.; Schaefer, F.; Seidel, A.

1998-03-01

The nuclear reactor core model DYN3D with 3D neutron kinetics has been coupled to the thermohydraulic system code ATHLET. In the report, activities on qualification of the coupled code complex ATHLET-DYN3D as a validated tool for the accident analysis of russian VVER type reactors are described. That includes: - Contributions to the validation of the single codes ATHLET and DYN3D by the analysis of experiments on natural circulation behaviour in thermohydraulic test facilities and solution of benchmark tasks on reactivity initiated transients, - the acquisition and evaluation of measurement data on transients in nuclear power plants, the validation of ATHLET-DYN3D by calculating an accident with delayed scram and a pump trip in VVER plants, - the complementary improvement of the code DYN3D by extension of the neutron physical data base, implementation of an improved coolant mixing model, consideration of decay heat release and xenon transients, - the analysis of steam leak scenarios for VVER-440 type reactors with failure of different safety systems, investigation of different model options. The analyses showed, that with realistic coolant mixing modelling in the downcomer and the lower plenum, recriticality of the scramed reactor due to overcooling can be reached. The application of the code complex ATHLET-DYN3D in Czech Republic, Bulgaria and the Ukraine has been started. Future work comprises the verification of ATHLET-DYN3D with a DYN3D version for the square fuel element geometry of western PWR. (orig.) [Deutsch] Das Reaktorkernmodell DYN3D mit 3D Neutronenkinetik wurde an den Thermohydraulik-Systemcode ATHLET angekoppelt. Im vorliegenden Bericht werden Arbeiten zur Qualifizierung des gekoppelten Codekomplexes zu einem validierten Hilfsmittel fuer Stoerfallablaufanalysen zu Reaktoren des russischen Typs WWER dargestellt. Diese umfassten im einzelnen: - Beitraege zur Validierung der Einzelcodes ATHLET und DYN3D anhand der Nachrechnung von Experimenten zum

Adaptive Neural Network Algorithm for Power Control in Nuclear Power Plants

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Husam Fayiz, Al Masri

2017-01-01

The aim of this paper is to design, test and evaluate a prototype of an adaptive neural network algorithm for the power controlling system of a nuclear power plant. The task of power control in nuclear reactors is one of the fundamental tasks in this field. Therefore, researches are constantly conducted to ameliorate the power reactor control process. Currently, in the Department of Automation in the National Research Nuclear University (NRNU) MEPhI, numerous studies are utilizing various methodologies of artificial intelligence (expert systems, neural networks, fuzzy systems and genetic algorithms) to enhance the performance, safety, efficiency and reliability of nuclear power plants. In particular, a study of an adaptive artificial intelligent power regulator in the control systems of nuclear power reactors is being undertaken to enhance performance and to minimize the output error of the Automatic Power Controller (APC) on the grounds of a multifunctional computer analyzer (simulator) of the Water-Water Energetic Reactor known as Vodo-Vodyanoi Energetichesky Reaktor (VVER) in Russian. In this paper, a block diagram of an adaptive reactor power controller was built on the basis of an intelligent control algorithm. When implementing intelligent neural network principles, it is possible to improve the quality and dynamic of any control system in accordance with the principles of adaptive control. It is common knowledge that an adaptive control system permits adjusting the controller’s parameters according to the transitions in the characteristics of the control object or external disturbances. In this project, it is demonstrated that the propitious options for an automatic power controller in nuclear power plants is a control system constructed on intelligent neural network algorithms. (paper)

Investigations of the VVER-1000 coolant transient benchmark phase 1 with the coupled code system RELAP5/PARCS

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sanchez-Espinoza, Victor Hugo

2008-07-01

As part of the reactor dynamics activities of FZK/IRS, the qualification of best-estimate coupled code systems for reactor safety evaluations is a key step toward improving their prediction capability and acceptability. The VVER-1000 Coolant Transient Benchmark Phase 1 represents an excellent opportunity to validate the simulation capability of the coupled code system RELAP5/PACRS regarding both the thermal hydraulic plant response (RELAP5) using measured data obtained during commissioning tests at the Kozloduy nuclear power plant unit 6 and the neutron kinetics models of PARCS for hexagonal geometries. The Phase 1 is devoted to the analysis of the switching on of one main coolant pump while the other three pumps are in operation. It includes the following exercises: (a) investigation of the integral plant response using a best-estimate thermal hydraulic system code with a point kinetics model (b) analysis of the core response for given initial and transient thermal hydraulic boundary conditions using a coupled code system with 3D-neutron kinetics model and (c) investigation of the integral plant response using a best-estimate coupled code system with 3D-neutron kinetics. Already before the test, complex flow conditions exist within the RPV e.g. coolant mixing in the upper plenum caused by the reverse flow through the loop-3 with the stopped pump. The test is initiated by switching on the main coolant pump of loop-3 that leads to a reversal of the flow through the respective piping. After about 13 s the mass flow rate through this loop reaches values comparable with the one of the other loops. During this time period, the increased primary coolant flow causes a reduction of the core averaged coolant temperature and thus an increase of the core power. Later on, the power stabilizes at a level higher than the initial power. In this analysis, special attention is paid on the prediction of the spatial asymmetrical core cooling during the test and its effects on the

Investigations of the VVER-1000 coolant transient benchmark phase 1 with the coupled code system RELAP5/PARCS

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sanchez-Espinoza, Victor Hugo

2008-07-15

As part of the reactor dynamics activities of FZK/IRS, the qualification of best-estimate coupled code systems for reactor safety evaluations is a key step toward improving their prediction capability and acceptability. The VVER-1000 Coolant Transient Benchmark Phase 1 represents an excellent opportunity to validate the simulation capability of the coupled code system RELAP5/PACRS regarding both the thermal hydraulic plant response (RELAP5) using measured data obtained during commissioning tests at the Kozloduy nuclear power plant unit 6 and the neutron kinetics models of PARCS for hexagonal geometries. The Phase 1 is devoted to the analysis of the switching on of one main coolant pump while the other three pumps are in operation. It includes the following exercises: (a) investigation of the integral plant response using a best-estimate thermal hydraulic system code with a point kinetics model (b) analysis of the core response for given initial and transient thermal hydraulic boundary conditions using a coupled code system with 3D-neutron kinetics model and (c) investigation of the integral plant response using a best-estimate coupled code system with 3D-neutron kinetics. Already before the test, complex flow conditions exist within the RPV e.g. coolant mixing in the upper plenum caused by the reverse flow through the loop-3 with the stopped pump. The test is initiated by switching on the main coolant pump of loop-3 that leads to a reversal of the flow through the respective piping. After about 13 s the mass flow rate through this loop reaches values comparable with the one of the other loops. During this time period, the increased primary coolant flow causes a reduction of the core averaged coolant temperature and thus an increase of the core power. Later on, the power stabilizes at a level higher than the initial power. In this analysis, special attention is paid on the prediction of the spatial asymmetrical core cooling during the test and its effects on the

TU Electric reactor physics model verification: Power reactor benchmark

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Willingham, C.E.; Killgore, M.R.

1988-01-01

Power reactor benchmark calculations using the advanced code package CASMO-3/SIMULATE-3 have been performed for six cycles of Prairie Island Unit 1. The reload fuel designs for the selected cycles included gadolinia as a burnable absorber, natural uranium axial blankets and increased water-to-fuel ratio. The calculated results for both startup reactor physics tests (boron endpoints, control rod worths, and isothermal temperature coefficients) and full power depletion results were compared to measured plant data. These comparisons show that the TU Electric reactor physics models accurately predict important measured parameters for power reactors

Training operators of VVER-1000 units in Eastern Europe

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Normand, X.; Nabet, E.; Hauesberger, P.

1996-01-01

The VVER 1000 is the most recent nuclear reactor designed in the former Soviet Union. Its design and operation principles are close to Western four-loop reactors in the 1000- to 1500-MW class; therefore, the Western simulation technology is usually directly applicable to the simulation of these units. Moreover, the current number of state-of-the-art training simulators in operation is very limited. A total of 19 units are in operation, while only 2 modern simulators are available (full-scope type) in Balakovo and Zaporozhe. Access to these simulators is practically limited to the respective plants' trainees, which means that the other units have to be satisfied with hands-on training. Facing this situation and taking into account the predicted lifetime of these plants (15 to 25 yr to go, maybe more), a lot of effort has been made in recent years to provide the plants with modern simulators. The major hurdles to this action were obviously financial and technical (availability of codes, computers, software tools). Today, one full-scope project (Kalinin) is almost complete, and three have been announced (Novovoronezh, Khmelnitsky, Kozloduy). Full-scope simulators are clearly the ultimate target of a concerned power plants. However, all users do realize the advantages of the complementary approach with compact simulators: 1. They can be available quickly for starting the training process. 2. They cover a training field that is not (or partly) addressed by full-scope simulators, i.e., the demonstration of physical phenomena in normal and accidental situations

Heuristic rules embedded genetic algorithm to solve VVER loading pattern optimization problem

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Fatih, Alim; Kostandi, Ivanov

2006-01-01

Full text: Loading Pattern (LP) optimization is one of the most important aspects of the operation of nuclear reactors. A genetic algorithm (GA) code GARCO (Genetic Algorithm Reactor Optimization Code) has been developed with embedded heuristic techniques to perform optimization calculations for in-core fuel management tasks. GARCO is a practical tool that includes a unique methodology applicable for all types of Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) cores having different geometries with an unlimited number of FA types in the inventory. GARCO was developed by modifying the classical representation of the genotype. Both the genotype representation and the basic algorithm have been modified to incorporate the in-core fuel management heuristics rules so as to obtain the best results in a shorter time. GARCO has three modes. Mode 1 optimizes the locations of the fuel assemblies (FAs) in the nuclear reactor core, Mode 2 optimizes the placement of the burnable poisons (BPs) in a selected LP, and Mode 3 optimizes simultaneously both the LP and the BP placement in the core. This study describes the basic algorithm for Mode 1. The GARCO code is applied to the VVER-1000 reactor hexagonal geometry core in this study. The M oby-Dick i s used as reactor physics code to deplete FAs in the core. It was developed to analyze the VVER reactors by SKODA Inc. To use these rules for creating the initial population with GA operators, the worth definition application is developed. Each FA has a worth value for each location. This worth is between 0 and 1. If worth of any FA for a location is larger than 0.5, this FA in this location is a good choice. When creating the initial population of LPs, a subroutine provides a percent of individuals, which have genes with higher than the 0.5 worth. The percentage of the population to be created without using worth definition is defined in the GARCO input. And also age concept has been developed to accelerate the GA calculation process in reaching the

Reactor power control system

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tomisawa, Teruaki.

1981-01-01

Purpose: To restore reactor-power condition in a minimum time after a termination of turbine bypass by reducing the throttling of the reactor power at the time of load-failure as low as possible. Constitution: The transient change of the internal pressure of condenser is continuously monitored. When a turbine is bypassed, a speed-control-command signal for a coolant recirculating pump is generated according as the internal pressure of the condenser. When the signal relating to the internal pressure of the condenser indicates insufficient power, a reactor-control-rod-drive signal is generated. (J.P.N.)

Prospects for development of an innovative water-cooled nuclear reactor for supercritical parameters of coolant

Science.gov (United States)

Kalyakin, S. G.; Kirillov, P. L.; Baranaev, Yu. D.; Glebov, A. P.; Bogoslovskaya, G. P.; Nikitenko, M. P.; Makhin, V. M.; Churkin, A. N.

2014-08-01

The state of nuclear power engineering as of February 1, 2014 and the accomplished elaborations of a supercritical-pressure water-cooled reactor are briefly reviewed, and the prospects of this new project are discussed based on this review. The new project rests on the experience gained from the development and operation of stationary water-cooled reactor plants, including VVERs, PWRs, BWRs, and RBMKs (their combined service life totals more than 15 000 reactor-years), and long-term experience gained around the world with operation of thermal power plants the turbines of which are driven by steam with supercritical and ultrasupercritical parameters. The advantages of such reactor are pointed out together with the scientific-technical problems that need to be solved during further development of such installations. The knowledge gained for the last decade makes it possible to refine the concept and to commence the work on designing an experimental small-capacity reactor.

Feasibility of VVER-440 type SFAT

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kaartinen, J.; Tarvainen, M.

1995-05-01

Spent fuel attribute tester, SFAT, has been constructed and tested for gross defect verification of VVER-440 type spent fuel assemblies. Based on earlier optimisation studies, the VVER-440 SFAT is kept hanging from the mast of the fuel handling machine moved by the operator. The device tested includes a standard 2' x 2' NaI(T1) detector connected to a commercial MCA. The results achieved with normal VVER-440 spent fuel assemblies at the Loviisa npp in Finland in November 1994 show that the method is feasible. The design of the so-called fuel follower assemblies, however, prevents SFAT verification, at least with moderate measurement times. Verification of the presence of the assemblies based on the detection of the fission product 137 Cs (662 keV) is possible even in 10-30 seconds. Measurement times of the order of 1-2 minutes make it possible to draw also semi-quantitative conclusions of the burnup and cooling time of the operator declared data (consistency check). (orig.) (7 refs., 11 figs., 3 tabs.)

Corrosion products behaviour under VVER primary coolant conditions

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Grygar, T.; Zmitko, M.

2002-01-01

The aim of this work was to collect data on thermodynamic stability of Cr, Fe, and Ni oxides, mechanisms of hydrothermal corrosion of stainless steels and to compare the real observation with the theory. We found that the electrochemical potential and pH in PWR and VVER are close to the thermodynamic boundary between two fields of stable spinel type oxides. The ways of degradation of the passivating layers due to changes in water chemistry were considered and PWR and VVER systems were found to be potentially endangered by reductive attack. In certain VVER systems the characteristics of the passivating layer on steels and also concentration of soluble corrosion products seem to be in contradiction with the theoretical expectations. (author)

Development and qualification of a thermal-hydraulic nodalization for modeling station blackout accident in PSB-VVER test facility

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Saghafi, Mahdi [Department of Energy Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Avenue, Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Ghofrani, Mohammad Bagher, E-mail: ghofrani@sharif.edu [Department of Energy Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Avenue, Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of); D’Auria, Francesco [San Piero a Grado Nuclear Research Group (GRNSPG), University of Pisa, Via Livornese 1291, San Piero a Grado, Pisa (Italy)

2016-07-15

Highlights: • A thermal-hydraulic nodalization for PSB-VVER test facility has been developed. • Station blackout accident is modeled with the developed nodalization in MELCOR code. • The developed nodalization is qualified at both steady state and transient levels. • MELCOR predictions are qualitatively and quantitatively in acceptable range. • Fast Fourier Transform Base Method is used to quantify accuracy of code predictions. - Abstract: This paper deals with the development of a qualified thermal-hydraulic nodalization for modeling Station Black-Out (SBO) accident in PSB-VVER Integral Test Facility (ITF). This study has been performed in the framework of a research project, aiming to develop an appropriate accident management support tool for Bushehr nuclear power plant. In this regard, a nodalization has been developed for thermal-hydraulic modeling of the PSB-VVER ITF by MELCOR integrated code. The nodalization is qualitatively and quantitatively qualified at both steady-state and transient levels. The accuracy of the MELCOR predictions is quantified in the transient level using the Fast Fourier Transform Base Method (FFTBM). FFTBM provides an integral representation for quantification of the code accuracy in the frequency domain. It was observed that MELCOR predictions are qualitatively and quantitatively in the acceptable range. In addition, the influence of different nodalizations on MELCOR predictions was evaluated and quantified using FFTBM by developing 8 sensitivity cases with different numbers of control volumes and heat structures in the core region and steam generator U-tubes. The most appropriate case, which provided results with minimum deviations from the experimental data, was then considered as the qualified nodalization for analysis of SBO accident in the PSB-VVER ITF. This qualified nodalization can be used for modeling of VVER-1000 nuclear power plants when performing SBO accident analysis by MELCOR code.

Low power modular power generating reactors or Small Modular Reactors (SMR)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chenais, Jacques

2016-01-01

Electronuclear reactors were small reactors at the beginning, and then tend to be always bigger and more powerful, but since some recent times, several countries specialized in reactor design and fabrication (USA, Russia, China, and South Korea) have been developing Small Modular Reactors (SMR) of less than 300 MW. As France has already produced feasibility studies and is about to launch a SMR development programme, the author comments some specific aspects of this new architecture of reactors, characterises the targeted markets, gives an overview of the various more or less advanced existing concepts: a floating barge in Russia, the SMART 100 MW project in South Korea, several concepts in the USA (the mPower 125 MW, the NuScale 45 MW, the Westinghouse 225 MW, and the HI-SMUR 160 MW projects), the ACP 100 MW in China, the CAREM 27 MW in Argentina. French projects developed by the CEA, EDF, Areva and DCNS are then presented

Identification of fast power reactivity effect in nuclear power reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Efanov, A.I.; Kaminskas, V.A.; Lavrukhin, V.S.; Rimidis, A.P.; Yanitskene, D.Yu.

1987-01-01

A nuclear power reactor is an object of control with distributed parameters, characteristics of which vary during operation time. At the same time the reactor as the object of control has internal feedback circuits, which are formed as a result of the effects of fuel parameters and a coolant (pressure, temperature, steam content) on the reactor breeding properties. The problem of internal feedback circuit identification in a nuclear power reactor is considered. Conditions for a point reactor identification are obtained and algorithms of parametric identification are constructed. Examples of identification of fast power reactivity effect for the RBMK-1000 reactor are given. Results of experimental testing have shown that the developed method of fast power reactivity effect identification permits according to the data of normal operation to construct adaptive models for the point nuclear reactor, designed for its behaviour prediction in stationary and transition operational conditions. Therefore, the models considered can be used for creating control systems of nuclear power reactor thermal capacity (of RBMK type reactor, in particular) which can be adapted to the change in the internal feedback circuit characteristics

Study on Reactor Performance of Online Power Monitoring in PUSPATI TRIGA Reactor (RTP)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zareen Khan Abdul Jalil Khan; Ridzuan Abdul Mutalib; Mohd Sabri Minhat

2014-01-01

The Reactor TRIGA PUSPATI (RTP) at Malaysia Nuclear Agency is a TRIGA Mark II type reactor and pool type cooled by natural circulation of light water. This paper describe on reactor performance of online power monitoring based on various parameter of reactor such as log power, linear power, period, Fuel and coolant temperature and reactivity parameter with using neutronic and other instrumentation system of reactor. Methodology of online power estimation and monitoring is to evaluate and analysis of reactor power which is important of reactor safety and control. Neutronic instrumentation system will use to estimate power measurement, differential of log and linear power and period during reactor operation .This study also focus on noise fluctuation from fission chamber during reactor operation .This work will present result of online power monitoring from RTP which indicated the safety parameter identification and initiate safety action on crossing the threshold set point trip. Conclude that optimization of online power monitoring will improved the reactor control and safety parameter of reactor during operation. (author)

Power oscillations in BWR reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Espinosa P, G.

2002-01-01

One of the main problems in the operation of BWR type reactors is the instability in power that these could present. One type of oscillations and that is the objective of this work is the named density wave, which is attributed to the thermohydraulic processes that take place in the reactor core. From the beginnings of the development of BWR reactors, the stability of these has been an important aspect in their design, due to its possible consequences on the fuel integrity. The reactor core operates in two phase flow conditions and it is observed that under certain power and flow conditions, power instabilities appear. Studying this type of phenomena is complex, due to that a reactor core is constituted approximately by 27,000 fuel bars with different distributions of power and flow. The phenomena that cause the instability in BWR reactors continue being matter of scientific study. In the literature mainly in nuclear subject, it can be observed that exist different methods and approximations for studying this type of phenomena, nevertheless, their results are focused to establish safety limits in the reactor operation, instead of studying in depth of the knowledge about. Also in this line sense of the reactor data analysis, the oscillations characteristic frequencies are obtained for trying to establish if the power is growing or decreasing. In addition to that before mentioned in this paper it is presented a rigorous study applying the volumetric average method, for obtaining the vacuum waves propagation velocities and its possible connection with the power oscillations. (Author)

In-Vessel Retention via External Reactor Cooling

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Bachrata, Andrea [CTU in Prague, Faculty of nuclear sciences and physical engineering, V Holesovickach 2 180 00, Prague 8 (Czech republic)

2008-07-01

In-vessel (corium) retention (IVR) via external reactor pressure vessel (RPV) cooling is considered to be an effective severe accident management strategy for corium localisation and stabilisation. The main idea of IVR strategy consists in flooding the reactor cavity and transferring the decay heat through the wall of RPV to the recirculating water and than to the atmosphere of the containment of nuclear power plant. The aim of this strategy is to localise and to stabilise the corium inside the RPV. Not using this procedure could destroy the integrity of RPV and might cause the interaction of the corium with the concrete at the bed of the reactor cavity. Several experimental facilities and computer codes (MVITA, ASTEC module DIVA and CFD codes) were applied to simulate the IVR strategy for concrete reactor designs. The necessary technical modifications concerning the implementation of IVR concept were applied at the Loviisa NPP (VVER-440/V213). This strategy is also an important part of the advanced reactor designs AP600 and AP1000. (authors)

Power generator in BWR type reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Yoshida, Kenji.

1984-01-01

Purpose: To enable to perform stable and dynamic conditioning operation for nuclear fuels in BWR type reactors. Constitution: The conditioning operation for the nuclear fuels is performed by varying the reactor core thermal power in a predetermined pattern by changing the predetermined power changing pattern of generator power, the rising rate of the reactor core thermal power and the upper limit for the rising power of the reactor core thermal power are calculated and the power pattern for the generator is corrected by a power conditioning device such that the upper limit for the thermal power rising rate and the upper limit for the thermal power rising rate are at the predetermined levels. Thus, when the relation between the reactor core thermal power and the generator electrical power is fluctuated, the fluctuation is detected based on the variation in the thermal power rising rate and the limit value for the thermal power rising rate, and the correction is made to the generator power changing pattern so that these values take the predetermined values to thereby perform the stable conditioning operation for the nuclear fuels. (Moriyama, K.)

Nuclear power: 2006 world report - evaluation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Anon.

2007-01-01

Last year, 2006, 437 nuclear power plants were available for power supply in 31 countries, 7 plants less than in 2005. One unit was commissioned for the first time, 8 nuclear power plants were decommissioned for good in 2006. At a cumulated gross power of 389,488 MWe and a cumulated net power of 370,441 MWe, respectively, worldwide nuclear generating capacity has reached a high level so far. Nine different reactor lines are operated in commercial plants: PWR, PWR-VVER, BWR, CANDU, D 2 O PWR, GCR, AGR, LWGR, and LMFBR. Light water reactors (PWR and BWR) continue to top the list with 358 plants. By the end of the year, 10 countries operated 29 nuclear power plants with an aggregate gross power of 25,367 MWe and an aggregate net power of 23,953 MWe, respectively. Of these, 21 are light water reactors, 5 are CANDU-type reactors, 2 are fast breeder and 1 a LWGR. 123 commercial reactors with an aggregate power in excess of 5 MWe have so far been decommissioned in 19 countries. Most of them are prototype plants of low power. About 70% of the nuclear power plants in operation, namely 304 plants, were commissioned in the eighties and nineties. The energy availability and operating availability factors of the nuclear power plants again reached peak levels: 82% for energy availability, and 83% for operating availability. The 4 nuclear power plants in Finland continue to be in the lead worldwide with a cumulated average operating capacity factor of 94%. (orig.)

Nuclear power. 2008 world report - evaluation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Anon.

2010-01-01

In 2008, 438 nuclear power plants were available for power supply in 31 countries, 1 plant less than in 2007. No unit was commissioned for the first time, 1 nuclear power plant was decommissioned for good in 2008. At a cumulated gross power of 392,597 MWe and a cumulated net power of 372,170 MWe, respectively, worldwide nuclear generating capacity has reached a high level. Nine different reactor lines are operated in commercial plants: PWR, PWR-VVER, BWR, CANDU, D2O PWR, GCR, AGR, LWGR, and LMFBR. Light water reactors (PWR and BWR) continue to top the list with 358 plants. By the end of 2008, in 14 countries 43 nuclear power plants with an aggregate gross power of 39,211 MWe and an aggregate net power of 36,953 MWe were under construction. Of these, 37 are light water reactors, 3 are CANDU-type reactors, 2 are fast breeder and 1 D2O-PWR. 124 commercial reactors with an aggregate power in excess of 5 MWe have so far been decommissioned in 19 countries. Most of them are prototype plants of low power. About 70% of the nuclear power plants in operation, namely 304 plants, were commissioned in the eighties and nineties. The energy availability and operating availability factors of the nuclear power plants reached good levels: 80.80% for operating availability and 80,00% for energy availability. The four nuclear power plants in Finland continuecontinue to be in the lead worldwide with a cumulated average operating capacity factor of 91,60%. (orig.)

DRAGON analysis of MOX fueled VVER cell benchmarks

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Marleau, G.; Foissac, F.

2002-01-01

The computational unit-cell benchmarks problems for LEU and MOX fueled VVER-1000 ('water-water energetic reactor') have been analyzed using the code DRAGON with ENDF/B-V and ENDF/B-VI based WIMS-AECL cross section libraries. The results obtained were compared with those generated using the SAS2H module of the SCALE-4.3 computational code system and with the code HELIOS. Good agreements between DRAGON and HELIOS were obtained when the ENDF/B-VI based library was considered while the ENDF/B-V DRAGON results were generally closer to those obtained using SAS2H. This study was useful for the verification of the DRAGON code and confirms that HELIOS and DRAGON have a similar behavior when compatible cross sections library are used. (author)

Main results on pilot operation during 5 years of the 3rd generation fuel in VVER-440 reactors of Kola NPP

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Saprykin, V.; Sumarokov, M.; Gagarinskiy, A.; Sumarokova, A.; Adeev, V.

2015-01-01

In the report the results of comparison of main neutron-physical data of exploitation of nuclear fuel are presented for the average enrichment (on U - 235) of 4.87 for the 2nd and 3rd (12 piece) generations with the results of calculations by the complex of the programs KASKAD for 5 fuel loadings of Kola NPP Unit 4 with the reactor VVER- 440. The basic feature of fuel of the 3rd generation as compared with the 2nd is a presence of ribs of inflexibility at corners instead of cover of the fuel assembly and also the increased amount of uranium. The arrangement of fuel rods with different enrichment in fuel assemblies of the 2nd and 3rd generations is chosen identical for the convenient comparison of neutronic and thermohydraulic characteristics of the fuel of different generations. The fuel of 3rd generation was situated in the core symmetrically to the fuel of 2nd one

Study On Safety Analysis Of PWR Reactor Core In Transient And Severe Accident Conditions

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Le Dai Dien; Hoang Minh Giang; Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy; Nguyen Thi Tu Oanh; Le Thi Thu; Pham Tuan Nam; Tran Van Trung; Le Van Hong; Vo Thi Huong

2014-01-01

The cooperation research project on the Study on Safety Analysis of PWR Reactor Core in Transient and Severe Accident Conditions between Institute for Nuclear Science and Technology (INST), VINATOM and Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Korea has been setup to strengthen the capability of researches in nuclear safety not only in mastering the methods and computer codes, but also in qualifying of young researchers in the field of nuclear safety analysis. Through the studies on the using of thermal hydraulics computer codes like RELAP5, COBRA, FLUENT and CFX the thermal hydraulics research group has made progress in the research including problems for safety analysis of APR1400 nuclear reactor, PIRT methodologies and sub-channel analysis. The study of severe accidents has been started by using MELCOR in collaboration with KAERI experts and the training on the fundamental phenomena occurred in postulated severe accident. For Vietnam side, VVER-1000 nuclear reactor is also intensively studied. The design of core catcher, reactor containment and severe accident management are the main tasks concerning VVER technology. The research results are presented in the 9 th National Conference on Mechanics, Ha Noi, December 8-9, 2012, the 10 th National Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology, Vung Tau, August 14-15, 2013, as well as published in the journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, Vietnam Nuclear Society and other journals. The skills and experience from using computer codes like RELAP5, MELCOR, ANSYS and COBRA in nuclear safety analysis are improved with the nuclear reactors APR1400, Westinghouse 4 loop PWR and especially the VVER-1000 chosen for the specific studies. During cooperation research project, man power and capability of Nuclear Safety center of INST have been strengthen. Three masters were graduated, 2 researchers are engaging in Ph.D course at Hanoi University of Science and Technology and University of Science and Technology, Korea

Reactor theory and power reactors. 1. Calculational methods for reactors. 2. Reactor kinetics

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Henry, A.F.

1980-01-01

Various methods for calculation of neutron flux in power reactors are discussed. Some mathematical models used to describe transients in nuclear reactors and techniques for the reactor kinetics' relevant equations solution are also presented

Fast reactors in nuclear power

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kazachkovskii, O

1981-02-01

The possible applications are discussed of fast reactor nuclear power plants. Basic differences are explained in fast and thermal reactors, mainly with a view to nuclear fuel utilization. Discussed in more detail are the problems of nuclear fuel reproduction and the nost important technical problems of fast reactors. Flow charts are shown of heat transfer for fast reactors BN-350 (loop design) and BN-600 (integral coolant circuit design). Main specifications are given for demonstration and power fast reactors in operation, under construction and in project-stage.

Nuclear power development status in Russia and China

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hara, Taito

2016-01-01

Russia and China have clear policy for the export of nuclear reactors, and both countries conduct negotiations with the initiative of the government. In Russia, Atomenergoprom, which controls civilian nuclear power sector, is in charge, and in China, CNNC, CGN, and SPI are in charge. As for the development of new type reactors, Russian type VVER-1200 is led by NIAEP and Atomproekt, and China type CAP 1400 and Hualong-1 are led by CNNC, CGN, and SPI. The next reactor export is considered to be an improved type of the third generation. Furthermore, both countries are proceeding with the construction and planning of a variety of the fourth generation reactors. As for the power generation and construction costs of domestic nuclear reactors in each country, three countries such as South Korea, China, and Russia hold a dominant position, keeping the costs significantly lower than those in Japan, the United States, and France. In Russia and China, the governments approve government support loans of approximately 5 to 9 billion dollars per reactor for exporting reactors. For developing countries, where financial resources are limited, this system is considered to be a powerful incentive for importing nuclear reactors in combination with BOO contract system that covers from construction to operation. Japan's nuclear reactor exports are planned for the UK, Vietnam, and Turkey. In addition, a nuclear power agreement with India has been agreed in principle, and the order receipt of Japanese power plant manufacturers is expected. (A.O.)

Validation of the reactor dynamics code HEXTRAN

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kyrki-Rajamaeki, R.

1994-05-01

HEXTRAN is a new three-dimensional, hexagonal reactor dynamics code developed in the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) for VVER type reactors. This report describes the validation work of HEXTRAN. The work has been made with the financing of the Finnish Centre for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (STUK). HEXTRAN is particularly intended for calculation of such accidents, in which radially asymmetric phenomena are included and both good neutron dynamics and two-phase thermal hydraulics are important. HEXTRAN is based on already validated codes. The models of these codes have been shown to function correctly also within the HEXTRAN code. The main new model of HEXTRAN, the spatial neutron kinetics model has been successfully validated against LR-0 test reactor and Loviisa plant measurements. Connected with SMABRE, HEXTRAN can be reliably used for calculation of transients including effects of the whole cooling system of VVERs. Further validation plans are also introduced in the report. (orig.). (23 refs., 16 figs., 2 tabs.)

Study of the flux effect nature for VVER-1000 RPV welds with high nickel content

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kuleshova, E.A., E-mail: evgenia-orm@yandex.ru [National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, Kurchatov Sq.1, 123182, Moscow (Russian Federation); National Research Nuclear University, “MEPhI” (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), Kashirskoe Highway 31, 115409, Moscow (Russian Federation); Gurovich, B.A.; Lavrukhina, Z.V.; Maltsev, D.A.; Fedotova, S.V.; Frolov, A.S.; Zhuchkov, G.M. [National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, Kurchatov Sq.1, 123182, Moscow (Russian Federation)

2017-01-15

This work extends the research of the basic regularities of segregation processes in the grain boundaries (GB) of VVER-1000 reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels. The paper considers the influence of irradiation with different fast neutron fluxes on the structure, yield strength and ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (T{sub K}) changes as well as on changes of the share of brittle intergranular fracture and development of segregation processes in the VVER-1000 RPV weld metal (WM). The obtained experimental results allow to separate the contribution of the hardening and non-hardening mechanisms to mechanical properties degradation of material irradiated at the operating temperature. It is shown that the difference in T{sub K} shift in WM irradiated to the same fluence with different fast neutron fluxes is mainly due to the difference in the GB accumulation kinetics of impurities and only to a small extent due to the material hardening. Phosphorus bulk diffusion coefficients were evaluated for the temperature exposure, accelerated irradiation and irradiation within surveillance specimens (SS) using a kinetic model of phosphorus GB accumulation in low-alloyed low-carbon steels under the influence of operational factors. The correlation between the GB segregation level of phosphorus and nickel, and the T{sub K} shift - in WM SS was obtained experimentally and indicates the non-hardening mechanism contribution to the total radiation embrittlement of VVER-1000 RPV steels throughout its extended lifetime. - Highlights: • Structural elements in high Ni welds are studied at different irradiation fluxes. • AES study demonstrated different P GB kinetics at different irradiation fluxes. • Hardening and non-hardening mechanism contributions to the flux effect are assessed. • Correlation between ΔT{sub K} and P and Ni GB content is shown for VVER-1000 RPV welds.

The Optimization of power reactor control system

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Danupoyo, S.D.

1997-01-01

A power reactor is an important part in nuclear powered electrical plant systems. Success in controlling the power reactor will establish safety of the whole power plant systems. Until now, the power reactor has been controlled by a classical control system that was designed based on output feedback method. To meet the safety requirements that are now more restricted, the recently used power reactor control system should be modified. this paper describes a power reactor control system that is designed based on a state feedback method optimized with LQG (Linear-quadrature-gaussian) method and equipped with a state estimator. A pressurized-water type reactor has been used as the model. by using a point kinetics method with one group delayed neutrons. the result of simulation testing shows that the optimized control system can control the power reactor more effective and efficient than the classical control system

TerraPower, Bill Gates' reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Guidez, J.

2016-01-01

TerraPower is a traveling wave reactor, it means that the reactor gradually converts non fissile material into the fuel it needs and the active part of the core progressively moves through the core leaving spent fuel behind. The last design of the TerraPower shows that it will use depleted uranium as fuel and that its core will need reloading every 10 years. Re-arrangement of the nuclear fuel will have to be made every 18 months to keep the core reactive. Metallic nuclear fuels will be used as they allow the highest breeding rates. It appears that apart from the very specific configuration of the core, the TerraPower is a reactor very similar to sodium-cooled fast reactors. Neutron transport inside traveling wave reactor core is complex and simulations show that the piling-up of fission product tends to kill the chain reaction and a continuous neutron addition may be necessary to keep the reactor going. A large part of the TerraPower feasibility studies concerns neutron transport inside its core. (A.C.)

Power reactor noise

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Thie, J.A.

1981-01-01

This book concentrates on the different types of noise present in power reactors and how the analysis of this noise can be used as a tool for reactor monitoring and diagnostics. Noise analysis is a growing field that offers advantages such as simplicity, low cost, and natural multivariable interactions. A major advantage, continuous and undisturbed monitoring, supplies a means of obtaining early warnings of possible reactor malfunctions thus preventing further complications by alerting operators to a problem - and aiding in the diagnosis of that problem - before it demands major repairs. Following an introductory chapter, the theoretical basis for the various methods of noise analysis is explained, and full chapters are devoted to the fundamentals of statistics for time-domain analysis and Fourier series and related topics for frequency-domain analysis. General experimental techniques and associated theoretical considerations are reviewed, leading to discussion of practical applications in the latter half of the book. Besides chapters giving examples of neutron noise and acoustical noise, chapters are also devoted to extensive examples from pressurized water reactor and boiling water reactor power plants

Compact reactor/ORC power source

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Meier, K.L.; Kirchner, W.L.; Willcutt, G.J.

1986-01-01

A compact power source that combines an organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) electric generator with a nuclear reactor heat source is being designed and fabricated. Incorporating existing ORC technology with proven reactor technology, the compact reactor/ORC power source offers high reliability while minimizing the need for component development. Thermal power at 125 kWt is removed from the coated particle fueled, graphite moderated reactor by heat pipes operating at 500 0 C. Outside the reactor vessel and connected to the heat pipes are vaporizers in which the toluene ORC working fluid is heated to 370 0 C. In the turbine-alternator-pump (TAP) combined-rotating unit, the thermal energy of the toluene is converted to 25 kWe of electric power. Lumped parameter systems analyses combined with a finite element thermal analysis have aided in the power source design. The analyses have provided assurance of reliable multiyear normal operation as well as full power operation with upset conditions, such as failed heat pipes and inoperative ORC vaporizers. Because of inherent high reliability, long life, and insensitivity to upset conditions, this power source is especially suited for use in remote, inaccessible locations where fuel delivery and maintenance costs are high. 10 refs

Correlations between power and test reactor data bases

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Guthrie, G.L.; Simonen, E.P.

1989-02-01

Differences between power reactor and test reactor data bases have been evaluated. Charpy shift data has been assembled from specimens irradiated in both high-flux test reactors and low-flux power reactors. Preliminary tests for the existence of a bias between test and power reactor data bases indicate a possible bias between the weld data bases. The bias is nonconservative for power predictive purposes, using test reactor data. The lesser shift for test reactor data compared to power reactor data is interpreted primarily in terms of greater point defect recombination for test reactor fluxes compared to power reactor fluxes. The possibility of greater thermal aging effects during lower damage rates is also discussed. 15 refs., 5 figs., 2 tabs

Reactor power distribution monitor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sekimizu, Koichi

1980-01-01

Purpose: To improve the performance and secure the safety of a nuclear reactor by rapidly computing and display the power density in the nuclear reactor by using a plurality of processors. Constitution: Plant data for a nuclear reactor containing the measured values from a local power monitor LPRM are sent and recorded in a magnetic disc. They are also sent to a core performance computer in which burn-up degree distribution and the like are computed, and the results are sent and recorded in the magnetic disc. A central processors loads programs to each of the processors and applies data recorded in the magnetic disc to each of the processors. Each of the processors computes the corresponding power distribution in four fuel assemblies surrounding the LPRM string by the above information. The central processor compiles the computation results and displays them on a display. In this way, power distribution in the fuel assemblies can rapidly be computed to thereby secure the improvement of the performance and safety of the reactor. (Seki, T.)

Operation of Nuclear Fuel Based on Reprocessed Uranium for VVER-type Reactors in Competitive Nuclear Fuel Cycles

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Troyanov, V.; Molchanov, V.; Tuzov, A. [TVEL Corporation, 49 Kashirskoe shosse, Moscow 115409 (Russian Federation); Semchenkov, Yu.; Lizorkin, M. [RRC ' Kurchatov Institute' (Russian Federation); Vasilchenko, I.; Lushin, V. [OKB ' Gidropress' (Russian Federation)

2009-06-15

Current nuclear fuel cycle of Russian nuclear power involves reprocessed low-enriched uranium in nuclear fuel production for some NPP units with VVER-type LWR. This paper discusses design and performance characteristics of commercial nuclear fuel based on natural and reprocessed uranium. It presents the review of results of commercial operation of nuclear fuel based on reprocessed uranium on Russian NPPs-unit No.2 of Kola NPP and unit No.2 of Kalinin NPP. The results of calculation and experimental validation of safe fuel operation including necessary isotope composition conformed to regulation requirements and results of pilot fuel operation are also considered. Meeting the customer requirements the possibility of high burn-up achieving was demonstrated. In addition the paper compares the characteristics of nuclear fuel cycles with maximum length based on reprocessed and natural uranium considering relevant 5% enrichment limitation and necessity of {sup 236}U compensation. The expedience of uranium-235 enrichment increasing over 5% is discussed with the aim to implement longer fuel cycles. (authors)

Power reactors in Member States. 1978 edition

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

1978-01-01

The computer-based reactor listing gives information on reactor core characteristics and plant systems for all power reactors in operation under construction and planned. The following two tables are included to give a general picture of the overall situation: Reactor types and net electrical power; Reactor units and net electrical power by country and cumulated by year

PSB-VVER experimental and analytical investigation of station blackout accident in VVER-1000

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Lipatov, I.A.; Kapustin, A.V.; Nikonov, S.M.; Rovnov, A.A.; Basov, A.V. [Electrogorsk Research and Engineering Centre (EREC), Moscow Region (Russian Federation); Elkin, I.V. [NSI RRC, Kurchatov Institute, Moscow (Russian Federation)

2007-07-01

In November 2003, an experiment simulating station blackout accident was carried out in the PSB-VVER integral test facility at the Electrogorsk Research and Engineering Centre (Russia). The purpose of the experiment was to provide missing data for code validation as well as to investigate the VVER thermohydraulics in the blackout conditions. The experiment covers a wide range of phenomena relating not only to transients but also to small break loss-of-coolant accidents. The data gained in the test has been used to assess the RELAP5/MOD3.3 code. In this paper, a special attention has been paid to the code assessment regarding the mixture level and entrainment in steam generator secondary side. The analysis of the recorded transient has shown that the calculation of the heat transfer on the secondary side of steam generators is very sensitive to the steam generator nodalization. (authors)

Operating US power reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Silver, E.G.

1988-01-01

This update, which appears regularly in each issue of Nuclear Safety, surveys the operations of those power reactors in the US which have been issued operating licenses. Table 1 shows the number of such reactors and their net capacities as of September 30, 1987, the end of the three-month period covered in this report. Table 2 lists the unit capacity and forced outage rate for each licensed reactor for each of the three months (July, August, and September 1987) covered in this report and the cumulative values of these parameters since the beginning of commercial operation. In addition to the tabular data, this article discusses other significant occurrences and developments that affected licensed US power reactors during this reporting period. Status changes at Braidwood Unit 1, Nine Mile Point 2, and Beaver Valley 2 are discussed. Other occurrences discussed are: retraining of control-room operators at Peach Bottom; a request for 25% power for Shoreham, problems at Fermi 2 which delayed the request to go to 75% power; the results of a safety study of the N Reactor at Hanford; a proposed merger of Pacific Gas and Electric with Sacramento Municipal Utility District which would result in the decommissioning of Rancho Seco; the ordered shutdown of Oyster Creek; a minor radioactivity release caused by a steam generator tube rupture at North Anna 1; and 13 fines levied by the NRC on reactor licensees

Development of methodology for the analysis of fuel behavior in light water reactor in design basis accidents

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Salatov, A. A.; Goncharov, A. A.; Eremenko, A. S.; Kuznetsov, V. I.; Bolnov, V. A.; Gusev, A. S.; Dolgov, A. B.; Ugryumov, A. V.

2013-01-01

The report attempts to analyze the current experience of the safety fuel for light-water reactors (LWRs) under design-basis accident conditions in terms of its compliance with international requirements for licensing nuclear power plants. The components of fuel behavior analysis methodology in design basis accidents in LWRs were considered, such as classification of design basis accidents, phenomenology of fuel behavior in design basis accidents, system of fuel safety criteria and their experimental support, applicability of used computer codes and input data for computational analysis of the fuel behavior in accidents, way of accounting for the uncertainty of calculation models and the input data. A brief history of the development of probabilistic safety analysis methodology for nuclear power plants abroad is considered. The examples of a conservative approach to safety analysis of VVER fuel and probabilistic approach to safety analysis of fuel TVS-K are performed. Actual problems in development of the methodology of analyzing the behavior of VVER fuel at the design basis accident conditions consist, according to the authors opinion, in following: 1) Development of a common methodology for analyzing the behavior of VVER fuel in the design basis accidents, implementing a realistic approach to the analysis of uncertainty - in the future it is necessary for the licensing of operating VVER fuel abroad; 2) Experimental and analytical support to the methodology: experimental studies to identify and study the characteristics of the key uncertainties of computational models of fuel and the cladding, development of computational models of key events in codes, validation code on the basis of integral experiments

Using a combination of weighting factor method and imperialist competitive algorithm to improve speed and enhance process of reloading pattern optimization of VVER-1000 reactors in transient cycles

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Rahmani, Yashar, E-mail: yashar.rahmani@gmail.com [Department of Physics, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Sari Branch, Sari (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Shahvari, Yaser [Department of Computer Engineering, Payame Noor University (PNU), P.O. Box 19395-3697, Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Kia, Faezeh [Golestan Institute of Higher Education, Gorgan 49139-83635 (Iran, Islamic Republic of)

2017-03-15

Highlights: • This article was an attempt to optimize reloading pattern of Bushehr VVER-1000 reactor. • A combination of weighting factor method and the imperialist competitive algorithm was used. • The speed of optimization and desirability of the proposed pattern increased considerably. • To evaluate arrangements, a coupling of WIMSD5-B, CITATION-LDI2 and WERL codes was used. • Results reflected the considerable superiority of the proposed method over direct optimization. - Abstract: In this research, an innovative solution is described which can be used with a combination of the new imperialist competitive algorithm and the weighting factor method to improve speed and increase globality of search in reloading pattern optimization of VVER-1000 reactors in transient cycles and even obtain more desirable results than conventional direct method. In this regard, to reduce the scope of the assumed searchable arrangements, first using the weighting factor method and based on values of these coefficients in each of the 16 types of loadable fuel assemblies in the second cycle, the fuel assemblies were classified in more limited groups. In consequence, the types of fuel assemblies were reduced from 16 to 6 and consequently the number of possible arrangements was reduced considerably. Afterwards, in the first phase of optimization the imperialist competitive algorithm was used to propose an optimum reloading pattern with 6 groups. In the second phase, the algorithm was reused for finding desirable placement of the subset assemblies of each group in the optimum arrangement obtained from the previous phase, and thus the retransformation of the optimum arrangement takes place from the virtual 6-group mode to the real mode with 16 fuel types. In this research, the optimization process was conducted in two states. In the first state, it was tried to obtain an arrangement with the maximum effective multiplication factor and the smallest maximum power peaking factor. In

The corrosion and corrosion mechanical properties evaluation for the LBB concept in VVERs

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ruscak, M.; Chvatal, P.; Karnik, D.

1997-04-01

One of the conditions required for Leak Before Break application is the verification that the influence of corrosion environment on the material of the component can be neglected. Both the general corrosion and/or the initiation and, growth of corrosion-mechanical cracks must not cause the degradation. The primary piping in the VVER nuclear power plant is made from austenitic steels (VVER 440) and low alloy steels protected with the austenitic cladding (VVER 1000). Inspection of the base metal and heterogeneous weldments from the VVER 440 showed that the crack growth rates are below 10 m/s if a low oxygen level is kept in the primary environment. No intergranular cracking was observed in low and high oxygen water after any type of testing, with constant or periodic loading. In the framework of the LBB assessment of the VVER 1000, the corrosion and corrosion mechanical properties were also evaluated. The corrosion and corrosion mechanical testing was oriented predominantly to three types of tests: stress corrosion cracking tests corrosion fatigue tests evaluation of the resistance against corrosion damage. In this paper, the methods used for these tests are described and the materials are compared from the point of view of response on static and periodic mechanical stress on the low alloyed steel 10GN2WA and weld metal exposed in the primary circuit environment. The slow strain rate tests and static loading of both C-rings and CT specimens were performed in order to assess the stress corrosion cracking characteristics. Cyclic loading of CT specimens was done to evaluate the kinetics of the crack growth under periodical loading. Results are shown to illustrate the approaches used. The data obtained were evaluated also from the point of view of comparison of the influence of different structure on the stress corrosion cracking appearance. The results obtained for the base metal and weld metal of the piping are presented here.

Comparison of ASTEC 1.3 and ASTEC 1.3 R2 calculations in case of SBO for VVER-1000 reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Atanasova, B.; Stefanova, A.; Grudev, P.

2009-01-01

The report presents the results from severe accident analyses performed with the both versions of ASTEC v1.3 and ASTEC v1.3R2 computer code for a VVER 1000 type of reactor. The purpose of this analysis is to assess the progress of ASTEC code modeling of main phenomena arising during hypothetical severe accidents. The final target of these analyses is to estimate the behaviour of the ASTEC code, its capability for simulation of severe accidents, including safety systems and Severe Accident Management (SAM) procedures. The analyses have been performed assuming a station blackout with simultaneous loss of HPIS, LPIS (ECCSs), EFWS and spray system due to failure of DGs. Hydro accumulators are not available. In the calculation it is assumed opening and stuck-open of PRZ relief valves. It has been organized the Fission Products path through the SEMPELL valve. It should be said that this investigation was limited to the 'in-vessel' phase of the sequence; therefore the effect of sprays on containment atmosphere has not been studied. (authors)

Calculations of 3D full-scale VVER fuel assembly and core models using MCU and BIPR-7A codes

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Aleshin, Sergey S.; Bikeev, Artem S.; Bolshagin, Sergey N.; Kalugin, Mikhail A.; Kosourov, Evgeniy K.; Pavlovichev, Aleksandr M.; Pryanichnikov, Aleksandr V.; Sukhino-Khomenko, Evgenia A.; Shcherenko, Anna I.; Shcherenko, Anastasia I.; Shkarovskiy, Denis A. [Nuclear Research Centre ' ' Kurchatov Institute' ' , Moscow (Russian Federation)

2015-09-15

Two types of calculations were made to compare BIPR-7A and MCU results for 3D full-scale models. First EPS (emergency protection system) efficiency and in-core power distributions were analyzed for an equilibrium fuel load of VVER-1000 assuming its operation within an 18-month cycle. Computations were performed without feedbacks and with fuel burnup distributed over the core. After 3D infinite lattices of full-scale VVER-1000 fuel assemblies (A's) with uranium fuel 4.4% enrichment and uranium-erbium fuel 4.4% enrichment and Er{sub 2}O{sub 3} 1 % wt were considered. Computations were performed with feedbacks and fuel burnup at the constant power level. For different time moments effective multiplication factor and power distribution were obtained. EPS efficiency and reactivity effects at chosen time moments were analyzed.

Development of a cross-section methodology and a real-time core model for VVER-1000 simulator application

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Georgieva, Emiliya Lyudmilova

2016-06-06

The novel academic contributions are summarized as follows. A) A cross-section modelling methodology and a cycle-specific cross-section update procedure are developed to meet fidelity requirements applicable to a cycle-specific reactor core simulation, as well as particular customer needs and practices supporting VVER-1000 operation and safety. B) A real-time version of the Nodal Expansion Method code is developed and implemented into Kozloduy 6 full-scope replica control room simulator.

Start-up of a cold loop in a VVER-440, the 7th AER benchmark calculation with HEXTRAN-SMABRE-PORFLO

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hovi, Ville; Taivassalo, Veikko; Haemaelaeinen, Anitta; Raety, Hanna; Syrjaelahti, Elina

2017-01-01

The 7 th dynamic AER benchmark is the first in which three-dimensional thermal hydraulics codes are supposed to be applied. The aim is to get a more precise core inlet temperature profile than the sector temperatures available typically with system codes. The benchmark consists of a start-up of the sixth, isolated loop in a VVER-440 plant. The isolated loop initially contains cold water without boric acid and the start-up leads to a somewhat asymmetrical core power increase due to feedbacks in the core. In this study, the 7 th AER benchmark is calculated with the three-dimensional nodal reactor dynamics code HEXTRAN-SMABRE coupled with the porous computational fluid dynamics code PORFLO. These three codes are developed at VTT. A novel two-way coupled simulation of the 7 th AER benchmark was performed successfully demonstrating the feasibility and advantages of the new reactor analysis framework. The modelling issues for this benchmark are reported and some evaluation against the previously reported comparisons between the system codes is provided.

Reactor technology: power conversion systems and reactor operation and maintenance

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Powell, J.R.

1977-01-01

The use of advanced fuels permits the use of coolants (organic, high pressure helium) that result in power conversion systems with good thermal efficiency and relatively low cost. Water coolant would significantly reduce thermal efficiency, while lithium and salt coolants, which have been proposed for DT reactors, will have comparable power conversion efficiencies, but will probably be significantly more expensive. Helium cooled blankets with direct gas turbine power conversion cycles can also be used with DT reactors, but activation problems will be more severe, and the portion of blanket power in the metallic structure will probably not be available for the direct cycle, because of temperature limitations. A very important potential advantage of advanced fuel reactors over DT fusion reactors is the possibility of easier blanket maintenance and reduced down time for replacement. If unexpected leaks occur, in most cases the leaking circuit can be shut off and a redundant cooling curcuit will take over the thermal load. With the D-He 3 reactor, it appears practical to do this while the reactor is operating, as long as the leak is small enough not to shut down the reactor. Redundancy for Cat-D reactors has not been explored in detail, but appears feasible in principle. The idea of mobile units operating in the reactor chamber for service and maintenance of radioactive elements is explored

Potential consequences in Norway after a hypothetical accident at Leningrad nuclear power plant. Potential release, fallout and predicted impacts on the environment

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nalbandyan, A.; Ytre-Eide, M.A.; Thoerring, H.; Liland, A.; Bartnicki, J.; Balonov, M.

2012-06-15

The report describes different hypothetical accident scenarios at the Leningrad nuclear power plant for both RBMK and VVER-1200 reactors. The estimated release is combined with different meteorological scenarios to predict possible fallout of radioactive substances in Norway. For a hypothetical catastrophic accident at an RBMK reactor combined with a meteorological worst case scenario, the consequences in Norway could be considerable. Foodstuffs in many regions would be contaminated above the food intervention levels for radioactive cesium in Norway. (Author)

Potential consequences in Norway after a hypothetical accident at Leningrad nuclear power plant. Potential release, fallout and predicted impacts on the environment

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nalbandyan, A.; Ytre-Eide, M.A.; Thoerring, H.; Liland, A.; Bartnicki, J.; Balonov, M.

2012-06-01

The report describes different hypothetical accident scenarios at the Leningrad nuclear power plant for both RBMK and VVER-1200 reactors. The estimated release is combined with different meteorological scenarios to predict possible fallout of radioactive substances in Norway. For a hypothetical catastrophic accident at an RBMK reactor combined with a meteorological worst case scenario, the consequences in Norway could be considerable. Foodstuffs in many regions would be contaminated above the food intervention levels for radioactive cesium in Norway. (Author)

Formulae for thermal feedback of group constants in digital reactor simulation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Perneczky, L.; Toth, I.; Vigassy, J.

1976-01-01

The problem, how the feedback of the thermohydraulic field to the neutron density in a reactor can be calculated is analysed. After a brief survey of the digital models in reactor simulation the applied model based on the time-dependent two-group diffusion equations is described. Using the reactor physical code system THERESA numerical results for the VVER-440 reactor are presented. (Sz.Z.)

Validation cases of CATHARE 2 for VVER-1000 main steam line break analysis

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kolev, Nikolay P.; Petrov, Nikolay; Donov, Jordan; Sabotinov, Luben; Nikonov, Sergey

2008-01-01

Recent coupled code benchmarks identified coolant mixing in the reactor vessel as an unresolved issue in the analysis of complex plan transients with reactivity insertion. Thus, Phase 2 of the OECD VVER-1000 Coolant Transient Benchmark (V1000CT-2) was defined. The benchmark includes calculation of vessel mixing tests and main steam line break (MSLB) analysis. The reference plant is Kozloduy-6 in Bulgaria. The general objective is the assessment of system codes for VVER safety analysis and specifically for their use in the analysis of reactivity transients. A specific objective is the testing of different scale mixing models (mixing matrix, multi-1D, coarse-3D and CFD), and analysis of MSLB transients with improved vessel thermal hydraulic models. The benchmark is sponsored by CEA-France and OECD and is jointly prepared by CEA and INRNE, in collaboration with the Kozloduy NPP, IRSN and PSU. This paper summarizes CATHARE2 code assessment calculations using multi-1D vessel thermal hydraulics with cross flow. Test cases are the OECD V1000CT-1 pump start-up benchmark and the V1000CT-2 benchmarks. Emphasis is put on vessel mixing aspects. Separate effects in the lower plenum as well as component and integral system tests are considered. The comparison shows that a six-sector vessel mixing model informed by plant data or validated CFD calculations in the initial state was able to correctly reproduce the channel average temperatures at the core inlet as well as the vessel outlet temperatures. Testing at system level including code-to-experiment and CATHARE-ATHLET comparison shows that the considered CATHARE VVER-1000 system model is capable of MSLB simulation. (author)

Internal corium catcher of a nuclear reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Anatolii S Vlasov; Vladimir N Mineev; Aleksandr S Sidorov; Yuri A Zeigarnik

2005-01-01

Full text of publication follows: A corium catcher is one of the main devices of a nuclear reactor that provides corium melt and fission products retention within a containment during severe accidents. Several studies and design developments have shown that corium retention within a reactor vessel can be attained with a moderate capacity of the latter (up to 600 - 650 MW el.). With a higher reactor capacity external corium catchers are applied both at Russian (VVER-1000) and European (EPR) reactors. In the external catcher of a VVER-1000 reactor, most technological problems are solved due to using sacrificial material. They are as follows: (a) endo-thermal interaction of corium and sacrificial material reduces a level of the temperatures in the final melt pool; (b) solution in the melt of a great amount of the sacrificial material reduces the specific heat release density and the heat flux density at the boundaries of a melt; (c) due to changing of the oxide-component density an inverse stratification of the metallic and oxide components of the corium takes place, thus excluding heat-flux focusing in the zone of the metallic layer and making it possible to supply water on the free surface of the corium without a danger of incipience of the vapor explosion; (d) final oxidation of zirconium occurs without hydrogen generation. The above principles have been realized in the external catcher of the VVER- 1000 reactor at Tyanvan NPS that is presently under construction in China. Successfully solving of the problems concerning to the external catcher makes it possible to return on the new conceptual and technological basis to the idea of retention of the corium melt inside the vessel of a nuclear reactor of large capacity, that is, to provide the reactor vessel to play a role of an internal catcher. For this purpose, a reactor vessel is elongated by approximately two meters. In the lower part of the vessel, on elliptical bottom, pieces of sacrificial material are arranged

Reactor power control device

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kobayashi, Akira.

1980-01-01

Purpose: To prevent misoperation in a control system for the adjustment of core coolant flow rate, and the increase in the neutron flux density caused from the misoperation in BWR type reactors. Constitution: In a reactor power control system adapted to control the reactor power by the adjustment of core flow rate, average neutron flux signals of a reactor core, entire core flow rate signals and operation state signals for coolant recycling system are inputted to a microcomputer. The outputs from the computer are sent to a recycling MG set speed controller to control the reactor core flow rate. The computer calculates the change ratio with time in the average neutron flux signals, correlation between the average neutron flux signals and the entire core flow rate signals, change ratio with time in the operation state signals for the coolant recycling system and the like and judges the abnormality in the coolant recycling system based on the calculated results. (Ikeda, J.)

Start-up of a cold loop in a VVER-440, the 7{sup th} AER benchmark calculation with HEXTRAN-SMABRE-PORFLO

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hovi, Ville; Taivassalo, Veikko; Haemaelaeinen, Anitta; Raety, Hanna; Syrjaelahti, Elina [VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, VTT (Finland)

2017-09-15

The 7{sup th} dynamic AER benchmark is the first in which three-dimensional thermal hydraulics codes are supposed to be applied. The aim is to get a more precise core inlet temperature profile than the sector temperatures available typically with system codes. The benchmark consists of a start-up of the sixth, isolated loop in a VVER-440 plant. The isolated loop initially contains cold water without boric acid and the start-up leads to a somewhat asymmetrical core power increase due to feedbacks in the core. In this study, the 7{sup th} AER benchmark is calculated with the three-dimensional nodal reactor dynamics code HEXTRAN-SMABRE coupled with the porous computational fluid dynamics code PORFLO. These three codes are developed at VTT. A novel two-way coupled simulation of the 7{sup th} AER benchmark was performed successfully demonstrating the feasibility and advantages of the new reactor analysis framework. The modelling issues for this benchmark are reported and some evaluation against the previously reported comparisons between the system codes is provided.

AER Working Group D on VVER safety analysis - report of the 2009 meeting

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kliem, S.

2009-01-01

The AER Working Group D on VVER reactor safety analysis held its 18-th meeting in Rez, Czech Republic, during the period 18-19 May, 2009. The meeting was hosted by the Nuclear Research Institute Rez. Altogether 17 participants attended the meeting of the working group D, 16 from AER member organizations and 1 guest from a non-member organization. The co-ordinator of the working group, S. Kliem, served as chairman of the meeting. The meeting started with a general information exchange about the recent activities in the participating organizations. The given presentations and the discussions can be attributed to the following topics: 1) Code validation and benchmarking; 2) Safety analysis and code developments; 3) Reactor pressure vessel thermal hydraulics; 4) Future activities including discussion on the participation in the OECD/NEA Benchmark for the Kalinin-3 NPP

Asymmetric flow events in a VEER 1000

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Horak, W.C.; Kennett, R.J.; Shier, W.; Guppy, J.G.

1992-07-01

This paper describes the simulation of asymmetric loss of flow events in Russian designed VVER-1000 reactors using the RETRAN-02 Mod4 computer code. VVER-1000 reactors have significant differences from United States pressurized water reactors including multi-level emergency response systems and plant operation at reduced power levels with one or more main circulation pumps inoperable. The results of these simulations are compared to similar analyses done by the designers for the Rovno plant

Core design experience of WWER-440 reactors when they working on increased power level

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Adeev, V.; Panov, A.; Melenchuk, I.

2015-01-01

The Kola NPP continues commercial operation of 2nd generation fuel (FA-2) and trial operation of 3rd generation fuel (FA-3), which has a number of design features providing the best operational characteristics. This report gives the results of VVER-440 core operation with FA-2 and FA-3 with enrichment increased up to 4.87%, and at the power level uprated to 107% of nominal power level. Brief analysis of obtained data is carried out. Peculiarities and techniques of developing loading patterns with new types of nuclear fuel for operation at the uprated power level are reviewed. (authors)

Characteristics of self-powered neutron detectors used in power reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Todt, W.H.

1997-01-01

Self-Powered Neutron Detectors have been used effectively as in-core flux monitors for over twenty-five years in nuclear power reactors world-wide. The basic properties of these radiation sensors are described including their nuclear, electrical and mechanical characteristics. Recommendations are given for the proper choice of the self-powered detector emitter to provide the proper response time and radiation sensitivity desired for use in an effective in-core radiation monitoring system. Examples are shown of specific self-powered detector designs which are being effectively used in in-core instrumentation systems for pressurised water, heavy water and graphite moderated light water reactors. Examples are also shown of the mechanical configurations of in-core assemblies of self-powered detectors combined with in-core thermocouples presently used in pressurised water and heavy water reactors worldwide. This paper is a summary of a new IEC standard to be issued in 1996 describing the characteristics and test methods of self-powered detectors used in nuclear power reactors. (author)

Power conditioning system for a nuclear reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Higashigawa, Yuichi; Joge, Toshio.

1981-01-01

Purpose: To provide a power conditioning system for a BWR type reactor which has a function to be automatically operated within a range that the relationship between the heat power of the reactor and the electric power of an electric generator does not lose the safety of fuel by eliminating the unnecessary fluctuation of the power of the reactor. Constitution: A load request error signal fed from a conventional turbine control system to recirculation flow regulator is eliminated, and a reactor power conditioning system is newly provided, to which an electric generator power signal, a reactor average power area monitor signal and a load request signal are inputted. Thus, the load request signal is compared directly with the electric power of the electric generator, the recirculation flow rate is controlled by the compared result, and whether the correlation between the heat power of the reqctor and the electric power of the generator satisfies the correlation determined to prove the safety of fuel or not is checked. If this correlation is satisfied, the recirculation flow rate is merely automatically controlled. (Yoshino, Y.)

Impacts on power reactor health physics programs

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Meyer, B.A.

1991-01-01

The impacts on power reactor health physics programs form implementing the revised 10 CFR Part 20 will be extensive and costly. Every policy, program, procedure and training lesson plan involving health physics will require changes and the subsequent retraining of personnel. At each power reactor facility, hundreds of procedures and thousands of people will be affected by these changes. Every area of a power reactor health physics program will be affected. These areas include; ALARA, Respiratory Protection, Exposure Control, Job Coverage, Dosimetry, Radwaste, Effluent Accountability, Emergency Planning and Radiation Worker Training. This paper presents how power reactor facilities will go about making these changes and gives possible examples of some of these changes and their impact on each area of power reactor health physics program

Thermionic reactors for space nuclear power

Science.gov (United States)

Homeyer, W. G.; Merrill, M. H.; Holland, J. W.; Fisher, C. R.; Allen, D. T.

1985-01-01

Thermionic reactor designs for a variety of space power applications spanning the range from 5 kWe to 3 MWe are described. In all of these reactors, nuclear heat is converted directly to electrical energy in thermionic fuel elements (TFEs). A circulating reactor coolant carries heat from the core of TFEs directly to a heat rejection radiator system. The recent design of a thermionic reactor to meet the SP-100 requirements is emphasized. Design studies of reactors at other power levels show that the same TFE can be used over a broad range in power, and that design modifications can extend the range to many megawatts. The design of the SP-100 TFE is similar to that of TFEs operated successfully in test reactors, but with design improvements to extend the operating lifetime to seven years.

Simulation of pulsed accidental energy release in a reactor core

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ryshanskii, V.A.; Ivanov, A.G.; Uskov, A.A.

1995-01-01

At the present time the strength of the load-bearing members of VVER and fast reactors during a hypothetical accident is ordinarily investigated in model experiments [1]. A power burst during an accident is simulated by a nonnuclear exothermal reaction in water, which simulates the coolant and fills the model. The problem is to make the correct choice of the simulator of the accidental energy burst as an effective (i.e., sufficiently high working capacity) source of dangerous loads, corresponding to the conditions of an accident. What factors and parameters determine the energy release? The answers to these questions are contradictory

In vessel retention for VVER 1000 - Experimental work

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Batek, D.

2015-01-01

After Fukushima accident, the nuclear community realized that it is necessary to have strategy and solution for severe accident management. In Vessel Retention (IVR) of corium is an important strategy to mitigate the consequences of a severe accident. In this poster the author reviews the present status of experimental works made by UJV (Czech Republic) from 2012 until now, on the IVR strategy specifically applied for the VVER 1000 unit. The BESTH 1 experiment was prepared to test the behavior of the RPV (Reactor Pressure Vessel) surface under 2 configurations: clean and corroded. BESTH 2 experiment is a modification of BESTH 1 experiment in order to get greater thermal fluxes. The BESTH 3 facility is a large scale experiment that is under extensive design (2016-2017) whose main objective will be to investigate the results of vast analytical works made by experts with specialization of severe accident phenomenology

Reactor power control device

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Imaruoka, Hiromitsu.

1994-01-01

A high pressure water injection recycling system comprising injection pipelines of a high pressure water injection system and a flow rate control means in communication with a pool of a pressure control chamber is disposed to a feedwater system of a BWR type reactor. In addition, the flow rate control means is controlled by a power control device comprising a scram impossible transient event judging section, a required injection flow rate calculation section for high pressure water injection system and a control signal calculation section. Feed water flow rate to be supplied to the reactor is controlled upon occurrence of a scram impossible transient event of the reactor. The scram impossible transient event is judged based on reactor output signals and scram operation demand signals and injection flow rate is calculated based on a predetermined reactor water level, and condensate storage tank water or pressure control chamber pool water is injected to the reactor. With such procedures, water level can be ensured and power can be suppressed. Further, condensate storage tank water of low enthalpy is introduced to the pressure suppression chamber pool to directly control elevation of water temperature and ensure integrity of the pressure vessel and the reactor container. (N.H.)

To question of NPP power reactor choice for Kazakhstan

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Batyrbekov, G.A.; Makhanov, Y.M.; Reznikova, R.A.; Sidorenco, A.V.

2004-01-01

Full text: The requirements to NPP power reactors that will be under construction in Kazakhstan are proved and given in the report. A comparative analysis of the most advanced projects of power reactors with light and heavy water under pressure of large, medium and low power is carried out. Different reactors have been considered as follows: 1. Reactors with high-power (700 MW(el) and up) such as EPR, French - German reactor; CANDU-9, Canadian heavy-water reactor; System 80+, developed by ABB Combustion Engineering company, USA; KNGR, Korean reactor of the next generation; APWR, Japanese advanced reactor; WWER-1000 (V-392) - development of Atomenergoproect /Gydropress, Russian Federation; EP 1000, European passive reactor. 2. Reactors with medium power (300 MW (el) - 700 MW (el): AP-600, passive PWR of the Westinghouse company; CANDU-6, Canadian heavy-water reactor; AC-600, Chinese passive PWR; WWER-640, Russian passive reactor; MS-600 Japanese reactor of Mitsubishi Company; KSNP-600, South Korean reactor. 3. Reactors with low power (a few MW(el)- 300 MW(el)): IRIS, reactor of IV generation, developed by the International Corporation of 13 organizations from 7 countries, SMART, South Korean integrated reactor; CAREM, Argentina integrated reactor; MRX, Japanese integrated reactor; 'UNITERM', Russian NPP with integrated reactor, development of NIKIET; AHEC-80, Russian NPP, developed by OKBM. A comparison of the projects of the above-mentioned power reactors was carried out with respect to 15 criteria of nuclear, radiating, ecological safety and economic competitiveness, developed especially for this case. Data on a condition and prospects of power production and power consumption, stations and networks in Kazakhstan necessary for the choice of projects of NPP reactors for Kazakhstan are given. According to the data a balance of power production and power consumption as a whole in the country was received at the level of 59 milliard kw/h. However, strong dis balance

To question of NPP power reactor choice for Kazakhstan

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Batyrbekov, G.A.; Makhanov, Y.M.; Reznikova, R.A.; Sidorenco, A.V.

2004-01-01

The requirements to NPP power reactors that will be under construction in Kazakhstan are proved and given in the report. A comparative analysis of the most advanced projects of power reactors with light and heavy water under pressure of large, medium and low power is carried out. Different reactors have been considered as follows: 1. Reactors with high-power (700 MW(el) and up) such as EPR, French - German reactor; CANDU-9, Canadian heavy-water reactor; System 80+, developed by ABB Combustion Engineering company, USA; KNGR, Korean reactor of the next generation; APWR, Japanese advanced reactor; WWER-1000 (V-392) - development of Atomenergoproect /Gydropress, Russian Federation; EP 1000, European passive reactor. 2. Reactors with medium power (300 MW (el) - 700 MW (el): AP-600, passive PWR of the Westinghouse company; CANDU-6, Canadian heavy-water reactor; AC-600, Chinese passive PWR; WWER-640, Russian passive reactor; MS-600 Japanese reactor of Mitsubishi Company; KSNP-600, South Korean reactor. 3. Reactors with low power (a few MW(el)- 300 MW(el)): IRIS, reactor of IV generation, developed by the International Corporation of 13 organizations from 7 countries, SMART, South Korean integrated reactor; CAREM, Argentina integrated reactor; MRX, Japanese integrated reactor; 'UNITERM', Russian NPP with integrated reactor, development of NIKIET; AHEC-80, Russian NPP, developed by OKBM. A comparison of the projects of the above-mentioned power reactors was carried out with respect to 15 criteria of nuclear, radiating, ecological safety and economic competitiveness, developed especially for this case. Data on a condition and prospects of power production and power consumption, stations and networks in Kazakhstan necessary for the choice of projects of NPP reactors for Kazakhstan are given. According to the data a balance of power production and power consumption as a whole in the country was received at the level of 59 milliard kw/h. However, strong dis balance in the

Non-Proliferative, Thorium-Based, Core and Fuel Cycle for Pressurized Water Reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Todosow, M.; Raitses, G.; Galperin, A.

2009-01-01

Two of the major barriers to the expansion of worldwide adoption of nuclear power are related to proliferation potential of the nuclear fuel cycle and issues associated with the final disposal of spent fuel. The Radkowsky Thorium Fuel (RTF) concept proposed by Professor A. Radkowsky offers a partial solution to these problems. The main idea of the concept is the utilization of the seed-blanket unit (SBU) fuel assembly geometry which is a direct replacement for a 'conventional' assembly in either a Russian pressurized water reactor (VVER-1000) or a Western pressurized water reactor (PWR). The seed-blanket fuel assembly consists of a fissile (U) zone, known as seed, and a fertile (Th) zone known as blanket. The separation of fissile and fertile allows separate fuel management schemes for the thorium part of the fuel (a subcritical 'blanket') and the 'driving' part of the core (a supercritical 'seed'). The design objective for the blanket is an efficient generation and in-situ fissioning of the U233 isotope, while the design objective for the seed is to supply neutrons to the blanket in a most economic way, i.e. with minimal investment of natural uranium. The introduction of thorium as a fertile component in the nuclear fuel cycle significantly reduces the quantity of plutonium production and modifies its isotopic composition, reducing the overall proliferation potential of the fuel cycle. Thorium based spent fuel also contains fewer higher actinides, hence reducing the long-term radioactivity of the spent fuel. The analyses show that the RTF core can satisfy the requirements of fuel cycle length, and the safety margins of conventional pressurized water reactors. The coefficients of reactivity are comparable to currently operating VVER's/PWR's. The major feature of the RTF cycle is related to the total amount of spent fuel discharged for each cycle from the reactor core. The fuel management scheme adopted for RTF core designs allows a significant decrease in the

Corrosion particles in the primary coolant of VVER-440 reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Vajda, N.; Molnar, Z.; Macsik, Z.; Szeles, E.; Hargittai, P.; Csordas, A.; Pinter, T.; Pinter, T.

2010-01-01

Corrosion and activity build-up processes are of major concern in ageing and life-extension of nuclear power reactors. Researches to study the migration of radioactive corrosion particles have been initiated at Paks Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), Hungary in order to better understand the corrosion of the primary circuit surfaces, the transport and activation of the particles of corrosion origin and their deposition on in-core and out-of-core surfaces. Radioactive corrosion particles were collected from the primary coolant and the steam generator surfaces of the 4 reactor units and subjected to detailed microanalytical and radioanalytical investigations. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM-EDX) were used to study the morphology and the composition of the matrix elements in the particles and the deposited corrosion layers. Particles identified by SEM-EDX were re-located under optical microscope by means of a coordinate transformation algorithm and were separated with a micromanipulator for further studies. Activities of γ emitting radionuclides were determined by high resolution γ spectrometry, and those of β decaying isotopes were measured by liquid scintillation (LS) spectrometry after radiochemical processing. High sensitivity of the nuclear measuring techniques allowed us to determine the low activity concentrations of the long-lived radionuclides, i.e. 60 Co, 54 Mn, 63 Ni, 55 Fe in the individual particles. Finally, high resolution sector-field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS) was applied to determine the ultralow concentrations of Co, Fe, Ni in the same particles. Specific activities of 60 Co/Co, 54 Mn/Fe, 55 Fe/Fe and 63 Ni/Ni were derived from the measured activity and concentration data. Specific activities of the radioactive corrosion products reveal the history of activity buildup processes in the particle. Typically, Fe-Cr-Ni oxide particles formed as a result of corrosion of the steel

A compact reactor/ORC power source

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Meier, K.L.; Kirchner, W.L.; Willcutt, G.J.

1986-01-01

A compact power source that combines an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) electric generator with a nuclear reactor heat source is being designed and fabricated. Incorporating existing ORC technology with proven reactor technology, the compact reactor/ORC power source offers high reliability while minimizing the need for componenet development. Thermal power at 125 kWt is removed from the coated particle fueled, graphite moderated reactor by heat pipes operating at 500 0 C. Outside the reactor vessel and connected to the heat pipes are vaporizers in which the toluene ORC working fluid is heated to 370 0 C. In the turbine-alternator-pump (TAP) combined-rotating unit, the thermal energy of the toluene is converted to 25 kWe of electric power. Lumped parameter systems analyses combined with a finite element thermal analyses combined with a finite element thermal analysis have aided in the power source design. The analysis have provided assurance of reliable multiyear normal operation as well as full power operation with upset conditions, such as failed heat pipes and inoperative ORC vaporizers. Because of inherent high reliability, long life, and insensitivity to upset conditions, this power source is especially suited for use in remote, inaccessible locations where fuel delivery and maintenance costs are high

Nuclear reactor power control device

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Koshi, Yuji; Sakata, Akira; Karatsu, Hiroyuki.

1987-01-01

Purpose: To control abrupt changes in neutron fluxes by feeding back a correction signal obtained from a deviation between neutron fluxes and heat fluxes for changing the reactor core flow rate to a recycling flow rate control system upon abrupt power change of a nuclear reactor. Constitution: In addition to important systems, that is, a reactor pressure control system and a recycling control system in the power control device of a BWR type power plant, a control circuit for feeding back a deviation between neutron fluxes and heat fluxes to a recycling flow rate control system is disposed. In the suppression circuit, a deviation signal is prepared in an adder from neutron flux and heat flux signals obtained through a primary delay filter. The deviation signal is passed through a dead band and an advance/delay filter into a correction signal, which is adapted to be fed back to the recycling flow rate control system. As a result, the reactor power control can be conducted smoothly and it is possible to effectively suppress the abrupt change or over shoot of the neutron fluxes and abrupt power change. (Kamimura, M.)

Revision of the second basic plans of power reactor development in Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation