October 4, 1996
Prepared by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington

RUSSIA

Installation Rescheduled for Safety Parameter Display System at Kursk Plant. Meetings were held on September 18 and 19 between representatives from Parsons Power and personnel from RDIPE, Moscow Atomnergoproek (MAEP), VNIEM, Kursk nuclear power plant (NPP), Gosatomnadzor (GAN), and Rosenergoatom (REA) to resolve technical issues and align roles and responsibilities. Software development was observed on the developmental safety parameter display system and is proceeding at a reasonable pace. System installation was to occur during the scheduled maintenance outage in November 1996. However, that outage has been canceled. Cancellation of the outage has resulted in a schedule delay of at least 6 months for system installation. However, special procedures, approved by GAN, will be developed so that most of the installation can be performed during normal plant operation preceding the rescheduled outage. This phase of the installation is scheduled to begin in early December 1996 and last about 2 months. The schedule delay at Kursk NPP will not impact the installation schedules of the remaining RBMK safety parameter display system projects. (Norman Fletcher, DOE, 301-903-3275)

Quality Assurance Workshop Held in Moscow. Quality assurance measures related to the transportation of nuclear materials and spent fuel was the topic of a recent workshop held at Gosatomnadzor (GAN) headquarters in Moscow. During the workshop, representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Brookhaven Area Office, two DOE national laboratories, General Electric Company, and the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety shared technical information on U.S. techniques for ensuring the quality of nuclear materials packaging and transport. Participants also took a field trip to the fuel manufacturing facility at Electrostal to inspect new fuel packaging and observe transportation techniques. The GAN workshop was one of a series of technical exchanges being held as part of the U.S. program's nuclear safety legislative and regulatory framework element. (Jan van Erp, ANL, 630-252-3193).

UKRAINE

Full-Scope Simulator Project Moving Ahead at Khmelnytskyy NPP. Control panel modification and refurbishment have been completed at the facilities of Energotraining. Most of the panels have been delivered to the plant site and are being installed inside the training center. S3 Technologies has shipped the computer complex to Khmelnytskyy NPP along with the input/output devices. The S3 Technologies hardware installation team will arrive at the plant on October 8, 1996, to start the integration effort. (Peter Kohut, BNL, 516-344-4982)

CHORNOBYL SHELTER PROJECT

Chornobyl Shelter Project Leaders Conduct Briefing. U.S. scientists and industry specialists from the Chornobyl Shelter Project met in Washington, D.C., to brief DOE managers on project activities and issues. The briefing was in preparation for the DOE staff trip to Ukraine and St. Petersburg planned for mid-October (see Planned Activities). (Dennis Kreid, PNNL, 509-375-2170)

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

Slovakia: V1 Simulator Upgrade Project Achieves Milestone. Two program staff members completed 2 weeks of technical assistance to the simulator support staff at VUJE in Trnava, Slovakia. Computer terminal displays were developed and implemented on the instructor terminal and the six trainee stations. This equipment is part of the simulator upgrade project being conducted for the Bohunice NPP V1 block (two VVER-440/230s) at VUJE. At least one display per station was tested successfully. A major milestone was reached the instructor now can simulate changed conditions on individual systems at the console, and the respective trainee can respond to the perturbation at the remote console. (Bill Shier, BNL, 516-344-2385)

CROSS-CUTTING ACTIVITIES

Information Exchange on NPP Safety Assessment Techniques Yields Insights. On September 24-27, 1996, an information exchange was held at the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering in Obninsk, Russia. The forum, "Analytical Methods and Computational Tools for NPP Safety Assessment," covered topics related to the analysis methods and computational tools used in safety assessments of Soviet-designed reactors. Approximately 75 specialists attended, representing Canada, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, France, Germany, the International Atomic Energy Agency, Lithuania, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and the United States. Ten NPP sites with Soviet-designed reactors were represented. Participants presented 38 papers on topics related to the safety assessment of Soviet-designed reactors.

The forum provided unprecedented overview and insight into the broad scope of activities underway in the area of Soviet-designed-reactor safety assessment. Participants shared the results of their countries' programs carried out both with and without international assistance. The open exchange of information was particularly valuable for the participants from the host-country NPPs.

The presentation describing the PRA work indicated that operator actions and component reliability dominated the risk spectrum for the VVER reactor type. However, it was made clear that much work needs to be done with regard to developing consistent modeling assumptions for VVER PRA work. The need for developing a robust reliability database for use in PRAs is high. With regard to deterministic analysis, it is apparent that much development work is needed to upgrade host-country computational tools or apply more modern ones.

A full report documenting the information exchange forum is planned. (Jeff Binder, ANL, 630-252-7265)

VVER-440/230 EOI Working Group Meets, Shares Progress. representatives from Armenia Nuclear Power Station and Kozloduy, Novovoronezh, and Bohunice NPPs met with VNIIAES and U.S. representatives at Kozloduy NPP on September 23 through 26. Four newly drafted and two revised Kozloduy NPP emergency operating instructions (EOIs) were discussed. Because Kozloduy NPP had not adopted an EOI Writers' Guide, some problems were found with these instructions. Additional workshops were planned to assist Kozloduy in resolving this issue. Kozloduy working group members also announced their plan to complete the first draft of 22 of the 32 EOIs by December 2, 1996.

Novovoronezh staff reported that the first drafts of five of the remaining 10 EOIs for their plant have been completed. Calculations concerning integrity and voids in the reactor core remain to be completed.

Armenia nuclear power station staff continued to state their intent to draft symptom-based EOIs. The station has requested introductory EOI training courses and Russian and U.S. EOI documents for reference. The Armenian representative noted that a formal plan for EOI development will be completed in the next several months. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 372-4068)

Contractor Chosen to Provide Valve Repair Equipment for RBMK Maintenance Technology Transfer and Training Project. A contract was awarded to ECO USA Inc. on September 30, 1996, for in situ valve repair equipment. The equipment will be transferred to host-country NPPs with RBMK reactors. (Andrea Fernandez, PNNL, 509-375-2649)

Training to Be Provided on Precision Shaft Alignment System. Mechanical Maintenance Products, Inc., was awarded a contract for support and training on the shaft alignment system equipment transferred to host-country plants with RBMK reactors. The contractor will conduct the training at Russia's Smolensk Training Center for personnel from those plants. (Andrea Fernandez, PNNL, 509-375-2649)

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

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

* October 5-9 -- Moscow, Russia.
U.S. specialists will visit REA in Moscow to assess the capability of Russian-manufactured high-temperature suits to protect personnel for entry into hostile environments at nuclear power plants with RBMK reactors. (Jim Guppy, BNL, 516-344-2698)

October 5-10 -- Moscow, Russia.
Program representatives will participate in meetings with senior management of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) to finalize a contract between the U.S. program office and the WANO Moscow Center. (Dennis Meyers, PNNL, 202-586-7834)

October 6-19 -- Kyiv, Zaporizhzhya, and Yuzhoukrainsk, Ukraine.
Technical leaders from the U.S. program team will meet in Kyiv with representatives of the Ukrainian State Committee on Nuclear Energy Utilization (Derzhkomatom) and other nuclear power organizations involved in plant safety evaluation. Initiation of safety analysis pilot projects for the designated lead plants in Ukraine (Zaporizhzhya and South Ukraine NPPs) will be discussed. Site visits to the two plants regarding project startup and project planning will follow. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

October 7-11 -- Smolensk NPP, Russia.
Russian participants will accompany U.S. personnel on this site visit that is part of the project involved with transferring training technology. (John Yoder, DOE, 301-903-5650)

October 7-18 -- Kozloduy NPP, Bulgaria.
General Physics and Sonalysts staff will assist Kozloduy NPP with the implementation of training courses for the shift supervisors and reactor repair technicians. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

October 8-12 -- Bilibino, Russia.
Representatives from the U.S. program and the State of Alaska will travel to Bilibino to address concerns of the State of Alaska about emergency preparedness and communications. The team also will review plant needs on which to base new project starts. (Laurin Dodd, PNNL, 509-372-4423, or George Vargo, PNNL, 509-375-6836

October 9-12 -- Kyiv, Ukraine.
U.S. program delegates will meet with representatives of the Chornobyl NPP and a Ukrainian subcontractor, Technology Application, Inc., to discuss quality assurance activities for Chornobyl. (Dennis Meyers, DOE, 202-586-7834)

October 11 -- Paris, France.
U.S. program representatives will attend the meeting of the European Commission (EC) Chornobyl Shelter Project with the G-7 to update the G-7 on the status of the project. The U.S. EC team coordinator in residence with the EC project also will attend. (Dennis Kreid, PNNL, 509-375-2170)

October 11-19 -- Kola NPP, Polyarnie Zori, Russia.
Project team members and Victoreen staff will work with Kola NPP personnel to complete final installation of the confinement high-level radiation monitor system and calibrate the readout and recorder electronics for Unit 2. (George Greene, BNL, 516-344-2296)

October 11-20 -- Moscow and Desnagorsk, Russia.
U.S. experts from the program team and the contractor, Mechanical Maintenance Products, Inc., will travel to Moscow and on to Desnagorsk, to the Smolensk NPP. There they will oversee and assist in classroom and field training on U.S.-supplied mechanical and optical alignment systems. Trainees will include representatives of the training departments from the five RBMK reactor sites in Russia, Ukraine, and Lithuania. (Grigory Trosman, DOE, 301-903-3581)

October 14-15 -- Chornobyl NPP, Ukraine.
U.S. program representives will attend a meeting of the EC Chornobyl Shelter Project staff with Chornobyl NPP management. They will tour the shelter and possibly participate in the EC project's concluding meeting. (Dennis Kreid, PNNL, 509-375-2170)

October 14-24 -- Dimitrovgrad, Russia.
Representatives from GAN will attend a course on the management of performance-based training programs. The course will be offered at the Research Institute of Atomic Reactors (NIIAR) in Dimitrovgrad. (George Sherwood, DOE, 301-903-4162, or George Vargo, PNNL, 509-375-6836)

October 14-25 -- Waterford, Connecticut, USA.
Balakovo NPP specialists will travel to Sonalysts to continue development of the radiation protection training course. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

*October 16-18 -- St. Petersburg, Russia.
U.S. program staff will meet with representatives from VNIPIET and the Radium Institute. Discussions will cover the potential application of available data and expertise at those two institutes for solving problems associated with the damaged Unit 4 reactor and sarcophagus at Chornobyl NPP. (Frank Goldner, DOE, 301-903-2025)

*October 19-25 -- Moscow and Novovoronezh, Russia.
A U.S. project coordinator will participate in discussions with representatives from REA and Novovoronezh NPP regarding the startup of that plant's Unit 3 plant safety evaluation. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-0234)

*October 19-27 -- Kyiv and Slavutych, Ukraine.
U.S. technical experts will complete the installation of the integrated computer and satellite system for the Chornobyl Center for Nuclear Safety, Radioactive Waste, and Radioecology. (Dan Giessing, DOE, 301-903-2852)

October 21 -- Helsinki, Finland.
A KOLISA project status review will be presented to the project steering committee. The steering committee consists of the Kola plant manager, the DOE program manager, and a technical consultant from IVO International, Finland. Project participants will discuss comments on the IBRAE peer review plan. (Jeff Binder, ANL, 630-252-7265)

October 21-24 -- Moscow, Russia.
Representatives from GAN will attend a workshop on event reporting and analysis for research reactors and fuel cycle facilities. (George Sherwood, DOE, 301-903-4162, or George Vargo, PNNL, 509-375-6836)

*October 21-25 -- Columbia, Maryland, USA.
Staff representing the South Ukraine and Rivne NPPs and S3 Technologies will meet with U.S. program staff to discuss contractual arrangements for the full-scope simulator projects at South Ukraine Unit 1 and Rivne Unit 3. (Peter Kohut, BNL, 516-344-4982)

October 21-25 -- Kozloduy NPP, Bulgaria.
The project team for developing and implementing management and operational controls procedures will meet. The team will conduct technical reviews of draft procedures and planned steps to complete implementation of the procedures at pilot plants in countries with Soviet-designed NPPs. Attendees include representatives from Armenia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine, and the United States. The U.S. representatives include staff from the Brunswick NPP, INPO, and DOE. (Dennis Meyers, DOE, 301-903-1418)

October 21-25 -- Novovoronezh NPP, Russia.
Russian participants will accompany U.S. personnel on this site visit that is part of the project involved with transferring training technology. (John Yoder, DOE, 301-903-5650)

October 22-November 2 -- Trnava, SlovakiA.
The validation program for the V1 simulator upgrade will be performed jointly by U.S. program team members and Slovakian technical staff. Completion of this validation program is part of the preparation for transferring the upgraded simulator to the Slovakian training specialists. (Bill Shier, BNL, 516-344-2385)

October 23 - 26 -- Genoa Italy.
U.S. program staff and technical specialists for the Slovakian Nuclear Power Research Institute will attend the 8th European Simulator Symposium. There they jointly will present a paper describing the details and applications of the V1 simulator upgrade project. (Bill Shier, BNL, 516-344-2385)

October 26-November 2 -- Prague, Czech Republic.
A probabilistic risk assessment workshop will be cosponsored with the IAEA at the Czech Republic's Nuclear Research Institute. A U.S. team member will coordinate and participate in the workshop, which is being held to resolve discrepancies in modeling assumptions and databases among the different PRAs of VVER-440 reactors. Safety analysis specialists from Russian, Ukrainian, and Central and Eastern European power plants, and technical organizations will address modeling assumptions, initiating events, and component reliability data, with the goal of agreeing on consistent assumptions. Participation of a limited number of Western European and U.S. experts also is expected. (Jeff Binder, ANL, 630-252-7265)

October 28-November 1 -- Moscow, Russia.
Representatives from GAN will attend a followup workshop on safety analysis for research reactors and fuel cycle facilities. (Ed Branagan, DOE, 301-903-6509)

October 28-November 1 -- Moscow, Russia.
A course on the systematic approach to training will be given in Moscow for participants of the training technology transfer program. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

October TBD -- Kozloduy NPP, Bulgaria.
An EOI workshop tentatively is scheduled for Kozloduy NPP. Representatives from Sonalysts will present the principles of the U.S. "User's Guide" to staff from Kozloduy VVER-1000 and VVER-440/230 units. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

October TBD -- Moscow, Russia.
A special meeting of the VVER-1000 working group will be held at VNIIAES. Working group members from the Balakovo, Kozloduy, and Zaporizhzhya NPPs will meet with VNIIAES and Gidropress to review and discuss results of analysis calculations completed by Gidropress. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

November 4-8 -- Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA.
A VVER regulator EOI workshop has been scheduled at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Technical Training Center. Representatives from Russian, Ukrainian, and CEEC regulatory agencies, with primary responsibilities for reviewing and approving VVER EOIs, will attend. They will observe, learn, and discuss regulator involvement with EOIs associated with the VVER reactors. Workshop objectives are to

• educate/familiarize regulators on symptom-based EOI concepts
• provide demonstrations on the use of EOIs to mitigate accidents
• build regulator confidence in the quality of the EOI development process
• provide answers to questions the regulators may have concerning symptom-based EOIs
• demonstrate the U.S. approach to regulator involvement in EOI development/implementation
• encourage regulator involvement/priority in EOI development, approval, and implementation.

A combination of classroom lectures and simulator scenarios will be used to demonstrate these key points. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

*Canceled: November 4-8 -- Kozloduy NPP, Bulgaria.
There will be a VVER-440/230 EOI working group meeting at Kozloduy NPP. Representatives from all VVER-440/230 NPPs are scheduled to attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

*November 4-6 -- Kyiv, Ukraine.
The RBMK Maintenance Advisory Board will meet to discuss project progress to date and to determine and prioritize project activities for 1997. Chornobyl NPP will host the meeting at its Kyiv offices. U.S. program team members will attend. (Tom Vehec, PNNL, 509-372-4072)

November 11-22 -- Balakovo NPP, Russia.
Sonalysts staff will assist Balakovo in the implementation of the water chemistry training course. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

November 11-December 6 -- Place TBD.
A workshop on the systematic approach to training will be held for participants of the training technology transfer program. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

November 18-22 -- Zaporizhzhya NPP, Ukraine.
There will be a VVER-1000 EOI working group meeting at Zaporizhzhya NPP. Representatives from all VVER-1000 NPPs are scheduled to attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

November 18-22 -- Smolensk NPP, Russia.
There will be an RBMK EOI working group meeting at Smolensk NPP. Representatives from all RBMK NPPs are scheduled to attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)November 18-22 -- Bohunice NPP, Slovakia. The VVER-440/213 EOI working group will meet. Representatives from all VVER-440/213 NPPs are scheduled to attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

*December 2-12 -- Moscow, Russia.
Programmatic review meetings are planned for a number of ongoing simulator projects. Staff from Kola, Kalinin, Novovoronezh, and Chornobyl NPPs will meet with S3 Technologies, VNIIAES, and U.S. program team members to discuss the progress of the simulator projects at each respective plant. (Peter Kohut, BNL, 516-344-4982)

December 11-12 -- Moscow, Russia.
A meeting will be held with the training technology transfer participants to discuss the progress of the program. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

December TBD -- Charlotte, North Carolina.
Plans are being made to bring nondestructive examination specialists from Russia and Ukraine to the United States to observe U.S. nondestructive examination practices. Tentative plans include visits to the Electric Power Research Institute Nondestructive Examination Center in Charlotte and a U.S. NPP, as well as to the Savannah River Site to observe how its inspection program has been upgraded. (Robert Moffitt, PNNL, 509-372-4108)

*January TBD -- Dukovany NPP, Czech Republic.
In a tentatively scheduled EOI workshop, Sonalysts representatives will present the U.S. principles of verification and validation to staff from the Dukovany NPP VVER-440/213 units. (Larry Sherfey, PNNL, 509-372-4080)

ACRONYMNS/ABBREVIATIONS

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.