November 15, 1996
Prepared by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington

RUSSIA

Agreement Reached on Organization of Novovoronezh Safety Assessment. A U.S. program representative met with staff of Rosenergoatom and Novovoronezh nuclear power plant (NPP) regarding the safety assessment for Novovoronezh Units 3 and 4. Agreement was reached about the main organizations involved in the project and their roles; Novovoronezh NPP will have the technical leadership of the project. Both organizations have agreed to participate in a planning meeting at Argonne National Laboratory in December. (Jordi Roglans, ANL, 630-252-3283)

Technical Support Provided for Deterministic Analysis at Novovoronezh NPP. Two Russian teams, who were at BNL for eight weeks, have now returned home. One team represented Novovoronezh NPP Unit 3, which is a VVER-230; the other represented Unit 5, a VVER-1000. The Unit 3 team was successful in constructing a RELAP5 input deck (including representations of all six coolant loops) and conducting initial calculations for a small-break loss of coolant accident. The Unit 5 team used a previously constructed RELAP5 deck to conduct large- and small-break calculations important for the technical bases for emergency operating instruction (EOI) implementation. (Greg Slovik, BNL, 516-344-7983)

UKRAINE

Planning Meetings Held with Derzhkomatom and Ukrainian NPPs. The U.S. team involved in safety analysis projects for VVER reactors in Ukraine met in Kyiv with representatives from the Ukrainian Com- mittee on Nuclear Power Utilization (Derzhkomatom) and the Zaporizhzhya and South Ukraine NPPs. The overall approach for implementing program support to conduct plant safety evaluations in Ukraine and the organization of the plant-specific projects were discussed. A steering committee will be formed to provide overall guidance and oversight for the safety analysis projects in Ukraine. The committee will include a representative from Derzhkomatom, a senior management representative from each of the participating NPPs, and the U.S. program manager for plant safety evaluation. The program team also met with a senior management representative of Zaporizhzhya NPP. The approach, scope, and principles of support for plant safety analysis and requirements for the Zaporizhzhya NPP safety analyses were discussed. The plant staff will organize a project team for the Unit 5 safety analysis. The project startup meeting will be held in early December. (Christian Kot, ANL, 630-252-6151)

South Ukraine Unit 1 Safety Analysis Planned. U.S. project members from Argonne National Laboratory and Scientech, Inc. met with staff from South Ukraine NPP and their subcontractor, Energorisk, Ltd., in Yuzhnoukrainsk for the first planning meeting of the South Ukraine Unit 1 safety analysis project. Project organization and schedules were discussed, and a preliminary plan was developed with schedules and staffing allocations for the first phase of the project. The first phase consists of data collection and a level 1 probabilistic risk assessment to determine the probability of core damage from possible initiating events. The next planning meeting is scheduled for early December. (Christian Kot, ANL, 630-252-6151)

Khmelnytskyy NPP Trainers Prepare to Implement Refueling Operator Training Course. A team from General Physics Corporation worked with staff from Khmelnytskyy NPP to finalize the pilot training course for refueling operators. The course will be presented next week. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

Reactor Core Fire Protection Methodology Document to Be Translated. two Ukrainian fire protection experts will arrive in the United States November 15 to work with U.S. contractor Burns & Roe to ensure correct technical terms are used in the Russian translation of the methodology document. The methodology document was developed by Burns & Roe and Bechtel National under the direction of a working group. Final comments from the working group have been resolved on Draft C. In December, separate workshops are planned in the United States with executives from Ukraine and Russia, as a step in the adoption of the methodology as a standard. These executives will meet with Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff and U.S. utility executives, tour U.S. power plants that have performed safe shutdown analyses, and receive training in the use of the methodology. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

Maintenance Advisory Board Meeting Held in Kyiv. The semiannual meeting of the RBMK Maintenance Advisory Board was held; all RBMK representatives to the board were in attendance. The purpose of the meeting was to review the progress of the project since the inaugural meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, in February 1996, to discuss the tasks to be undertaken in 1997, and to develop and sign a protocol outlining project actions for FY 1997. Each member thanked the U.S. team for the tangible assistance that this project had provided in the past year. The members also related the positive benefits provided by the project to the maintenance of their facilities and praised the effectiveness of training on the laser and mechanical shaft alignment systems provided at the Smolensk Training Center.

The meeting concluded with signing a protocol that outlines project activities for FY 1997 and made some specific comments on the progress and the members' opinions of the project. A brief description of these points from the protocol follows:

• The members stated that they approve of the Project Management Plan.
• Taking into account the importance that improving maintenance technologies and practices has on enhancing the safety of overall plant operations, they propose to request additional funding for this project in FY 1997 to ensure a comprehensive solution of issues related to safety provided by the transferred maintenance technologies and training.

The overall impression resulting from this meeting is that of a truly cooperative effort between like-minded individuals sharing a common goal -- the improvement of maintenance at the RBMK plants to enhance safety. The meeting was conducted in a cooperative atmosphere that demonstrates the maturity of the project and the true understanding of the overall project goal. (Tom Vehec, PNNL, 509-372-4072)

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

Calculations Support EOI Implementation in Bulgarian Reactor. The Bulgarian staff member working at Brookhaven National Laboratory has successfully completed specific RELAP5 calculations in support of EOI implementation for Kozloduy NPP Unit 5, a VVER-1000 reactor. The transients simulated a natural circulation cooldown event. (Greg Slovik, BNL, 516-344-7983)

CROSS-CUTTING ACTIVITIES

Workshop Held on VVER Probabilistic Risk Assessment Model Assumptions and Data. A workshop sponsored by the U.S. and jointly organized with the International Atomic Energy Agency, "Harmonization of VVER PRA Model Assumptions and Data," was held in Rez, Slovakia. Participants from the Czech and Slovak Republics, Hungary, Russia, and Ukraine discussed differences in approaches of existing VVER probabilistic risk assessments (PRAs). Participants from Kola and Novovoronezh NPPs, with PRAs in their early stages, also had the opportunity to learn from completed PRAs about key assumptions and their impact on the results. The main topics addressed included loss of coolant accident frequencies, success criteria, pump filter clogging, and component reliability data. Participants suggested that another workshop should be held in the spring to address human reliability and common cause failure modeling in the VVER PRAs. (Jordi Roglans, ANL, 630-252-3283).

Regulators, VVER NPP Representatives Discuss Common Issues. A VVER emergency operating instruction (EOI) Regulatory Workshop was conducted at the NRC Technical Training Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Attending were representatives of regulatory organizations from six nations and their VVER NPPs. This workshop covered the basic strategies of symptom-based EOIs using the Trojan NPP control room simulator, a computer-driven, full-scale model of an NPP near Portland, Oregon, that was shut down recently. Using computer models, the instrumentation operates in a real-time environment; accidents can be simulated and operators perform recovery actions. Program representatives demonstrated the use of the EOIs during simulated control room emergency conditions. Other topics discussed were validation without a simulator, basics of EOI analytical calculations, history of EOI development in the United States, the relationship between the regulator and the group, and the role of the regulator during the approval process.

This workshop is the first time representatives responsible for review and approval of the EOIs from Russia, Ukraine, and Eastern Europe have met to discuss common issues. The workshop provided a venue for the representatives to learn more about EOIs, share ideas, and discuss "lessons learned." It also was an opportunity for the regulators to learn from U.S. industry experts. The regulators were excited about the opportunity to interface with their NPP representatives.

The regulators were united in their evaluation of the significance and benefit of this meeting. The program received a written request (signed by all regulatory representatives) for future assistance concerning regulatory issues for EOIs, operator licensing, onsite inspections, operator training, NPP licensing, and other issues. As a result, a follow-up workshop has been scheduled tentatively for February 1997. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

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

*November 15-20 -- Slavutych, Ukraine.
Technical staff from the U.S. program will meet with top-level representatives of Chornobyl NPP for discussions on accelerated decontamination and decommissioning activities for Chornobyl Unit 1. (Dan Giessing, DOE, 301-903-2852)

*November 16-22 -- Trnava, Slovakia.
A team of representatives from INPO, SAIC, Carolina Power and Light, and the U.S. program will meet with the members of the VVER-440/213 EOI working group to discuss EOIs and EOI analyses that have been developed since the group's August meeting at Kola NPP, Russia. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

November 16-27 -- Garching, Germany.
U.S. program technical staff will participate in two meetings sponsored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Topics to be covered are three-dimensional computer code validation/modeling of the RBMK reactors and the use of Japanese data provided to the IAEA for validating the RELAP5 computer code for phenomena related to the potential for multiple tube ruptures in RBMK reactors. The meeting objectives are to review the state of development of three-dimensional computer codes used for core and system analysis of nuclear power plants with RBMK reactors, to assess the status of code validation, to identify code requirements, to promote the exchange of information among experts working in this field, and to propose additional activities in this field. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

*November 17-21 -- Slavutych, Ukraine.
Technical experts from the U.S. program will hold discussions with Chornobyl NPP staff regarding the criticality safety of fuel debris in the Chornobyl Shelter. The discussions are aimed at reaching agreement on detailed specifications for new monitoring equipment for installation in the Shelter to provide real-time indications of the fuel debris neutronic characteristics. (Frank Goldner, DOE, 301-903-2025)

*November 17-21 -- Desnagorsk, Russia.
The RBMK EOI working group will hold its final meeting prior to transitioning under the direction of the World Association of Nuclear Operators. The U.S. program's representative to the group will attend the meeting. (Dennis Meyers, DOE, 202-586-7834)

November 17-23 -- Zurich and Murten, Switzerland.
The U.S. manager for instrumentation and controls projects will participate in the reactor instrumentation working group meeting of the International Electrotechnical Commission's Technical Committee 45 in Zurich. Presentations will be made by representatives from Sweden, Germany, and the United States. Commission members from Finland, Hungary, Austria, Japan, and the United Kingdom will attend. In Murten, the project manager will travel to the KKM plant to observe a demonstration of SIMON, a computer program that monitors reactor core instability. The director of the Ignalina NPP has expressed interest in implementing SIMON at the plant. (Norman Fletcher, DOE, 301-903-3275)

November 18-22 -- Khmelnytskyy NPP, Ukraine.
Program staff from Brookhaven National Laboratory and S3 Technologies will inspect progress of the full-scope simulator work before the start of the hardware/software integration effort. Meetings also are planned with Khmelnytskyy plant personnel to discuss issues related to the project. (Peter Kohut, BNL, 516-344-4982)

November 18-22 -- Vienna, Austria.
At the invitation of the IAEA, a representative from the program's training projects will participate in the final meeting of the advisory group for the IAEA world survey of nuclear power plant personnel training. Survey results will be published after this meeting. (Dan Giessing, DOE, 301-903-2852)

*Postponed-TBD -- Zaporizhzhya NPP, Ukraine.
A VVER-1000 EOI working group meeting will be held at Zaporizhzhya NPP. Representatives from all VVER-1000 NPPs are scheduled to attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068) (Workshop No. 96-103; Travel Coordinator Melinda Stone, PNNL, 509-375-4391)

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. (Sam McKay, PNNL, 509-372-4059) (Workshop No. 96-104; Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6554)

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. (Larry Sherfey, PNNL, 509-372-4080) (Workshop No. 96-102; Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6554)

November 19-20 -- Paris, France.
Norbert Molitor, manager of the European Commission Chornobyl Shelter project, will present the results and recommendations of the recently completed study to the G-7. U.S. program representatives will attend the meeting. (Dennis Kreid, PNNL, 509-375-2170)

*November 21-26 -- St. Petersburg, Russia.
Program experts in criticality safety will hold technical discussions about the condition of the Chornobyl Shelter fuel debris with staff of the Khlopin Radium Institute and VNIPIET. (Frank Goldner, DOE, 301-903-2025)

November 22 -- Slavutych, Ukraine.
Norbert Molitor, manager of the European Commission Chornobyl Shelter project, will present the results and recommendations of the recently completed study to the Ukrainian authorities in Slavutych. Representatives of the U.S. program will participate in the meeting. (Dennis Kreid, PNNL, 509-375-2170)

November 25-29 -- Kozloduy NPP, Bulgaria.
Sonalysts, Inc. staff will present a follow up workshop for Kozloduy plant staff to continue efforts to draft a plant-specific EOI Writer's Guide and User's Guide. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

TBD November --Upton, New York, USA.
Thermal-hydraulic representatives from Kozloduy Unit 6 will hold a calculational review meeting at BNL to discuss a set of transients requested to be evaluated by a visiting Bulgarian specialist. The draft results and future calculation support needs for Kozloduy NPP will be discussed. (Gregory Slovik, BNL, 516-344-7983) (Workshop No. 96-137; Travel Coordinator Melinda Stone, PNNL, 509-375-4391)

December 2-6 -- Indian Point NPP, New York, USA.
VVER-440/230 working group members from Kozloduy, Novovoronezh, and Bohunice NPPs will attend an EOI workshop. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068) (Workshop No. 96-101; Travel Coordinator Melinda Stone, PNNL, 509-375-4391)

December 2-6 -- Richland, Washington, USA.
U.S. program staff, in cooperation with the IAEA, will sponsor a week-long seminar for selected host country regulatory agency representatives. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory experts will train participants to use the COBRA-SFS code, a computer program for predicting in-cask storage temperatures of nuclear fuel. U.S. experience with programs supporting dry storage of spent fuel also will be covered during the seminar. (Mike McKinnon, PNNL, 509-372-4198) (Workshop No. 96-135; Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6554)

December 2-6 -- St. Petersburg, Russia.
A team representing the United States, Rosenergoatom, VNIIAES, the Novovoronezh Training Center, and Balakovo NPP will conduct a needs assessment for training technology transfer at Leningrad NPP. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

*December 4 -- Kyiv, Ukraine.
The first meeting of the steering committee for VVER plant safety analysis in Ukraine will beheld at Derzhkomatom. The purpose of the meeting is to establish project priorities, schedules, and overall approach for implementing the plan-specific projects. Representatives from Derzhkomatom and the Ukrainian NPPs and program staff will attend. (Christian Kot, ANL, 630-252-6151)

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) (Workshop No. 96-125; Travel Coordinator Melinda Stone, PNNL, 509-375-4391)

*December 6-7-- Kyiv, Ukraine.
Program from ANL and Scientech will meet with staff from South Ukraine NPP and their subcontractor Energorisk, Inc. to plan for the in depth safety analysis project of Unit 1. Details of PRA technical tasks and schedules will be worked out. (Christian Kot, ANL, 630-252-6151)

December 9-10 -- Dimitrovgrad, Russia.
DOE and BNL will meet with representatives of the Scientific Research Institute of Atomic Reactors (NIIAR) to discuss establishing training programs based on the systematic approach to training to improve the performance of research reactor personnel and the safety of the research reactors. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

*December 9-13 -- Argonne National Laboratory.
A planning and scheduling meeting for the Novovoronezh Units 3 and 4 plant safety assessment will be held at Argonne. The detailed workscope and an estimated schedule and effort will be developed during the meeting. Participants from Rosenergoatom, Novovoronezh NPP, SAIC, and ANL are expected to attend. (Jordi Roglans, ANL, 630-252-3283)

* Dec. 9-20 -- Balakovo NPP, Russia.
Sonalysts, Inc. staff will work with Balakovo NPP training staff in the continued development of the Instrumentation and Control Technician and Radiation Protection Technician training programs. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

December 11-12 -- Moscow, Russia.
U.S. program staff will meet with the training technology transfer participants to discuss program progress. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575) (Workshop No. 96-091; Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6554)

December 16-20 -- Augusta, Georgia, USA.
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 Savannah River Site and Vogtle NPP, to observe how its inspection program is developed and revised. (Robert Moffitt, PNNL, 509-372-4108) (Workshop No. 96-108; Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6554)

January 13-17 -- 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)

*Jan. 13-17 -- Moscow, Russia.
A course on the systematic approach to training will be given in Moscow for the second group of participants of the training technology transfer program. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

January 13-24 -- Balakovo NPP, Russia.
Sonalysts, Inc. will assist Balakovo NPP with the implementation of the I&C Operations and Radiation Protection Technician training courses. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

* Jan. 13-24 -- Kursk NPP, Russia.
Sonalysts, Inc. staff will work with Kursk NPP training staff to development of a training program on Mechanical Maintenance. This effort is part of thetraining technology transfer program. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

*Jan. 13-24 -- Balakovo NPP, Russia.
Sonalysts, Inc. and Balakovo NPP training staff will implement the pilot training course for Instrumentation and Control Technicians. Sonalysts staff will also have a working session with Balakovo NPP training staff to continue development of the Safety Inspector training course. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

January 25-February 8 -- Chornobyl NPP, Ukraine.
Sonalysts, Inc. and General Physics Corporation will work with the Chornobyl NPP training development group on the Control Room Reactor Operator and Radiation Protection Technician training courses. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

January 26-February 7 -- Khmelnytskyy NPP, Ukraine.
General Physics Corporation will assist Khmelnytskyy NPP with the implementation of the pilot Chemical Operator training course. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

January 26 -February 21 -- Aiken, South Carolina, USA.
As part of the training technology transfer program, representatives from Russian VVER NPPs and Bilibino NPP will attend a detailed training course on the systematic approach to training and instructor skills at the General Physics Corporation facility in Aiken. General Physics and Sonalysts staff will present the course. A visit to a U.S. NPP training center will be included. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

February 3-14 -- Trnava, Slovakia.
Sonalysts, Inc. and General Physics Corporation will present a workshop on the systematic approach to training at the Trnava Training Center. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

February 24-March 7 -- Aiken, South Carolina, USA.
Representatives from the Trnava Training Center will attend a workshop on instructor skills at General Physics Corporation facilities in Aiken. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

March 17-21 -- Trnava, Slovakia.
Sonalysts, Inc. will implement the Simulator Instructor training course at the Trnava Training Center. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

March 17-28 -- Chornobyl NPP, Ukraine.
Sonalysts, Inc. and General Physics Corporation will work with the Chornobyl NPP training development group on the Control Room Reactor Operator and Radiation Protection Technician training courses. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

March 17-18 -- Khmelnytskyy NPP, Ukraine.
General Physics Corporation will work with Khmelnytskyy personnel on the Control Room Reactor Operator training course. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

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.