April 19, 1996
Prepared by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington

RUSSIA

Confinement Isolation Project. Nine of eleven confinement isolation valves have been installed at the Kola nuclear power plant (NPP). Staff from Burns & Roe are helping with the installation, which is estimated to take approximately one month. Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) ordered additional gasket material required to complete the sealing of Kola Unit 2. The material will be shipped by air to reach the plant before the end of the current outage. The plant is scheduled to return to operation on May 18, 1996. To determine how effectively the application of sealant and gasket material has reduced leakage, the plant intends to perform confinement leak-rate tests in May. Radiation monitors are another element of the Kola confinement upgrade effort. The monitors were delivered to the plant the week of April 8, and the cesium radiation source to be used in calibrating the monitors is being packaged for shipment. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

Safety Parameter Display Systems for RBMKs. parsons Power/Gilbert Commonwealth signed a contract with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to provide safety parameter display systems for ten operating RBMK reactors in Russia and Ukraine. The systems are similar to those being provided to the Kursk NPP Unit 2. Work will begin immediately to identify plant-specific differences that will affect the design of the safety parameter display system for each plant. The next NPP to be provided with a safety parameter display system will be Chornobyl Unit 3. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412/Rich Reister, DOE, 301-903-0234)

Kola and Kalinin Full-Scope Simulators. S3 Technologies performed hardware acceptance tests on the Kola and Kalinin NPP computer complexes on April 3 and 4, 1996, at Columbia, Maryland. Each computer complex consists of server(s), workstations, personal computers, and accessories. The tests were largely successful. S3 Technologies is resolving minor problems encountered, which were associated with a new version of the Irix operating system. In addition, S3 Technologies staff demonstrated the use of the executive software on the Kalinin simulation computer (SGI Power Challenge L with four R8000 CPUs). However, the execution of a generic VVER NPP simulator model on the Kola and Kalinin simulation computers was not successful. S3 Technologies has resolved these problems, and it will not delay either the project schedule or shipment overseas.

General Energy Technologies (GET), the simulation model contractor, has requested detailed shipping invoices from S3 Technologies for the Kola and Kalinin computer complexes to avoid Customs problems. S3 Technologies is preparing these documents. Additionally, GET has requested a letter from PNNL to the Agency of Technical Cooperation with Russia (US Embassy, Moscow) and support from DOE to have the Agency of Technical Cooperation with Russia send the necessary letter to the Humanitarian Help Commission in Moscow, Russia. It is hoped these measures will allow the equipment to flow smoothly through the Customs process.

Successful completion of the computer tests and the receipt of Customs related documents will allow the full-scope simulator computer complexes to be shipped to GET. Once the equipment is delivered, GET can initiate the development of the actual simulator models for the Kola and Kalinin NPPs. (Peter Kohut, BNL, 516-344-4982)

UKRAINE

Fuel Cycle Safety. The cask transporter, which arrived in Ukraine in early January, has been released from the Customs holding area at the Zaporizhzhya NPP. Duke Engineering and Services (DE&S) is planning to have people there on Monday, April 22, to begin inspection of the transporter, to train plant staff in its use, and to facilitate acceptance of the transporter by the Zaporizhzhya NPP staff.

All remaining DE&S hardware supplied under the DOE contract has been delivered to the plant and has been put into a Customs holding area, with the exception of the multi-assembly sealed baskets. DE&S will try to have the equipment released from Customs while they are at Zaporizhzhya NPP for transporter acceptance tests. (Mike McKinnon, PNNL, 509-372-4198)

Khmelnytskyy Full-Scope Simulator. Recently DOE and Goscomatom signed an agreement to identify the requirements for obtaining Ukrainian Customs clearance. However, there is more information required in order for S3 Technologies to obtain release of one unopened shipment at Energotraining that contains material needed to complete the control panel modifications at Khmelnytskyy NPP. PNNL has sent the necessary additional information. (Peter Kohut, BNL, 516-344-4982)

Training Activities. Chornobyl staff completed intensive training in the Systematic Approach to Training methodology and instructor techniques at General Physics in Aiken, South Carolina. They completed a validated task list for the control room reactor operator position. This will allow work to continue on the development of the control room reactor operator training program. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

Safety Parameter Display Systems for RBMKs. See item under "Russia."

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

* April 17-24 -- Rivne NPP, Ukraine.
A team with representatives from DOE, BNL, PNNL, S3 Technologies and Goscomatom will visit the Rivne NPP and Hartron Industries in Kharkov. Discussions will address the construction of the Rivne Operator Training Center and the Rivne full-scope simulator. The NPP has contracted with Hartron Industries to construct the simulator control room panels. The team will assess the manufacturing capabilities of this facility. (Peter Kohut, BNL, 516-344-4982)

April 19-28 -- Visaginas, Lithuania.
The U.S.-sponsored workshop on Preventive and Predictive Maintenance in Nuclear Power Plant Operation will be conducted at the Ignalina NPP. Staff from ANL, DOE, PNNL, and representatives from the RBMK NPPs will attend. This workshop is part of a series aimed at enhancing the operational safety of NPPs in Central and Eastern European countries. (Grig Trosman, DOE, 301-903-3581)

April 20-25 -- Moscow, Russia.
Representatives from DOE and BNL will attend meetings to develop a work plan for technology transfer activities on the Systematic Approach to Training. (Dan Giessing, DOE, 301-903-2852)

April 21-26 -- Moscow, Russia.
The Kola in-depth safety analysis (KOLISA) project team will meet in Moscow, Russia, to develop project plans and guidelines, and to monitor progress. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

April 21-26 -- Moscow, Russia.
Representatives from the Kurchatov Institute, Minatom, BNL, and the Leningrad NPP will initiate the RBMK site-specific decommissioning study. This project is a joint U.S.-Russian effort to:

• develop a safe, technically feasible, time-phased decommissioning strategy for Leningrad Unit 1 (Unit 1 is a first-generation RBMK reactor)
• perform the initial analyses to identify and characterize the regulatory and technical plans required to support the above strategy.

  The participants will determine the details of the study and specify project tasks, schedules, milestones, and deliverables. (Rich Reister, DOE, 301-903-0234)

April 21-27 -- Sofia, Bulgaria.
BNL staff will provide technical assistance to the staff of the Kozloduy NPP in the development of plant models to evaluate design changes, review EOIs, and perform safety analyses for plant operations. (Dan Giessing, DOE, 301-903-2852)

* April 23-24 -- DOE, Germantown, Maryland.
Representatives from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), DOE, and PNNL will review comments received on the Fire Safety Analysis, Reactor Core Protection Evaluation Guidelines and determine appropriate responses. (Rich Reister, DOE, 301-903-0234)

* April 23-27, 1996 -- Moscow, Russia.
Staff from BNL and Minatom will prepare a work plan for technology transfer of International Nuclear Safety Program (INSP) training activities. A future meeting with representatives from other plants in Russia will be scheduled. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

* April 23-26, 1996 -- Moscow, Russia.
The first bilateral meeting on the RBMK site-specific decommissioning study is scheduled at the Kurchatov Institute in Moscow. Programmatic details of the study will be finalized during this meeting. The Leningrad NPP Unit 1 has tentatively been selected as the site for analysis; however, the site selection has not been finalized. (Bob Lavelle, BNL, 516-344-7747)

* April 25-May 8 -- Stockholm, Sweden.
A Swedish-sponsored emergency operating instruction (EOI) workshop will be conducted in Stockholm, Sweden. Participants will include representatives from Sweden, Lithuania, Russia and PNNL. Workshop participants will work to resolve current EOI development issues, prepare support documentation, and establish a training program. (Sam McKay, PNNL, 509-372-4059)

* April 29-May 3, 1996 -- Columbia, Maryland.
A technical exchange meeting regarding the Chornobyl analytical simulator is tentatively scheduled for the week of April 29. The intent of this meeting is to develop a detailed scope of the Chornobyl analytical simulator project. (Peter Kohut, BNL, 516-344-4982)

* May 1-2, 1996 -- Columbia, Maryland.
Staff from S3 Technologies, BNL, PNNL and the Novovoronezh NPP will discuss the technical details of a contract for the Novovoronezh analytical simulator. A representative of the Russian regulator, Gosatomnadzor, may also attend. This meeting will finalize the scope and technical requirements that will be included in the contract PNNL will issue for the simulator. (Peter Kohut, BNL, 516-344-4982)

* May 6-9 -- Pennsylvania State University , State College, Pennsylvania.
The American Nuclear Society is sponsoring an International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation and Control, which includes a speech by NRC Chairman Shirley Jackson. Representatives from DOE, PNNL, and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) will attend. DOE is also sponsoring three Russian representatives to attend this meeting. (Rich Reister, DOE, 301-903-0234)

May 11-17 -- Moscow, Russia.
Representatives from DOE and PNNL will participate in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) support group meetings. This group is studying the safety research needs for the VVER and RBMK reactors. (Colette Brown, 301-903-6924)

May 11-25 -- Balakovo NPP, Russia.
Balakovo NPP staff and Sonalysts personnel will continue development of the Electrical Operations and Instrumentation and Control Operations pilot training courses as well as the Administrative Procedures Manual and Simulator Instructor specialized training projects. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

* May 11-25 -- Kyiv and Slavutych, Ukraine.
In Kyiv, staff from DOE and PNNL will meet with representatives of Goscomatom to discuss possible projects relating to licensee event reporting and the Ukraine quality assurance program. At Slavutych, Chornobyl NPP will host meetings of the RBMK EOIs working group. (Dennis Meyers, DOE, 202-586-7834)

* May 12-16 -- Moscow, Russia.
EOI analytical work performed by VNIIAES, Gidropress, and the Kurchatov Institute in support of VVER 440/213 plants will be the focus of meetings to be held in Moscow. U.S. industry representatives will be available to present EOI analysis methodology and offer strategy suggestions. U.S. project representatives will attend to discuss current and future tasks involved in this effort. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

* May 12-19 -- Moscow, Russia.
PNNL Contracts staff will meet with MOHT regarding 1) EOI contracts and tasks associated with analytical work performed by VNIIAES, Gidropress, and the Kurchatov Institute in support of VVER 440/213 EOIs, and 2) contracts for the Novovoronezh NPP emergency water supply project. Meetings will also be held with Rosenergoatom about contract issues. (Doug Dahl, PNNL, 509-375-6855)

* May 13-14 -- Kyiv, Ukraine.
Representatives of DOE, PNNL, and EPRI will meet with Goscomatom to reach a final position on the safety significance of a Ukrainian requested project for an In-Core Control and Monitoring System (ICCS) for VVER-1000 plants. The team also will initiate new projects in instrumentation and control, specifically the safety parameter display systems for Rivne. (Rich Reister, DOE, 301-903-0234)

* May 14-15 -- DOE, Germantown, Maryland.
The fire safety working group will complete the resolution of comments received on the Reactor Core Protection Evaluation Guidelines. The group will also plan the training and implementation of the guidelines at nuclear plants in Russia and Ukraine. (Rich Reister, DOE, 301-903-0234)

May 14-17 -- Chornobyl NPP, Ukraine.
General Physics staff will travel to the Chornobyl NPP to continue work on training programs. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

May 20-31 -- Aiken, South Carolina.
Staff from the Khmelnytskyy NPP and General Physics will continue development of the Chemical Operator Pilot Training Course. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

* June 3-7 -- Moscow, Russia and Kyiv, Ukraine.
DOE, BNL and PNNL representatives will complete agreements with fire safety experts in Russia and Ukraine concerning the implementation of the Reactor Core Protection Evaluation Guidelines. With the planned completion of the final guidelines and these agreements, work can begin on the evaluations at specific plants in Russia and Ukraine. (Rich Reister, DOE, 301-903-0234)

* June 3 -- Rivne NPP, Ukraine.
The VVER 440/213 working group will hold its quarterly meeting at Rivne NPP. The group will review EOIs produced at participating NPPs, NPP training plans, and NPP plans for verification and validation of EOIs. U.S. utility representatives will present the U.S. methodology on related topics. The meeting will also follow up on outstanding issues from the last meeting in November 1995. The working group will review information from the EOI analysis meeting held in Moscow, Russia, in May. (Larry Sherfey, PNNL, 509-372-4080)

---------------
"*" indicates the event is a new item or has been changed from the last report.

Note: in the interest of providing a timely update on the Soviet-Designed-Reactor Safety Program, no formal document review of this weekly report has been conducted by DOE or PNNL.