December 6, 1996
Prepared by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington

RUSSIA

Balakovo Trainers Implement Water Chemistry Training Course. A team from U.S. contractor Sonalysts, Inc. worked with personnel from Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) to implement the pilot training course for water chemistry personnel. The course was presented over four days and included both classroom and laboratory training sessions. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

CHORNOBYL SHELTER PROJECT

Working Group Discusses Chornobyl Shelter Project. U.S. experts and contractor Stone & Webster Engineering Company, coordinator of the U.S. European Commission Project team, participated in meetings in Paris and Slavutych to review the results and recommendations of the Chornobyl Shelter Project. The G-7 Nuclear Safety Working Group conducted the meeting in Paris; the Chornobyl Shelter Manager chaired the meeting in Slavutych, which was attended by representatives of several Ukrainian ministries and institutes, including the Ukrainian Nuclear Regulatory Administration.

The consensus on short-term measures is that they are appropriate and should be implemented quickly. Consen- sus was not reached on long-term measures, largely due to the complexity and funding issues associated with the Ukrainian position that removing fuel-containing masses must proceed as soon as possible. The U.S. team proposed a process for developing implementation, finance, and management plans, including a proposal to initiate early starts on appropriate short-term measures. (Dennis Kreid, PNNL, 509-375-2170)

New Equipment Will Monitor Criticality Safety. U.S. technical experts discussed the criticality safety of fuel debris in the Shelter with representatives from the Chornobyl NPP, Khlopin Radium Institute, and VNIPIET. Participants reached agreement on specifications for monitoring equipment that will provide real-time indications of fuel debris neutronic characteristics. (Dennis Kreid, PNNL, 509-375-2170)

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

Technical Support Given for Bulgarian Emergency Operation Instructions Development. A report summarizing the predicted results from applying the RELAP5 computer code to an accident scenario for Kozloduy Unit 5 (VVER-1000) has been transmitted to the Kozloduy emergency operating instruction (EOI) team. The accident scenario is a trip of all four main coolant pumps, with SCRAM, and the transition of the plant to natural circulation conditions. The Kozloduy plant staff requested the predicted response to this accident sequence to support their ongoing EOI development and establishment of a technical basis. The Kozloduy EOI team requested that their technical expert resident at Brookhaven National Laboratory conduct an additional two transient calculations related to specific EOIs. (Greg Slovik, BNL, 516-344-7983)

CROSS-CUTTING ACTIVITIES

Consultancy Meeting Held in Richland. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) consultants met with Program staff of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington. The meetings focused on sharing United States experience in establishing spent fuel dry storage temperature limits accepted by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. A second aspect of the meeting was COBRA-SFS Code training for Hungarian and Ukrainian staff members. The COBRA-SFS Code predicts spent fuel temperatures in dry storage. Both activities support IAEA programs that were developed on the recommendation of the IAEA-coordinated Association of VVER Regulators that involves ten countries including the U.S.

The U.S. efforts on developing dry storage criteria for Zircaloy-clad spent fuel are expected to help refine an experimental program sponsored by IAEA. VNIPIET will characterize the performance of Zircaloy 1% niobium cladding used for VVER fuel. The IAEA will distribute information from the study to countries, reactor operators, and regulatory agencies needing it to qualify dry storage technologies. An IAEA program makes the COBRA-SFS code available to all VVER reactor operators and regulators. This will help reactor operators and regulators predict storage temperatures in proposed dry storage facilities. IAEA has contracted with Hungary to make necessary modifications to the COBRA-SFS code to better model the hexagonal VVER fuel assemblies. (Mikal McKinnon, PNNL, 509-372-4198)

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

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

*December 7-13 -- St. Petersburg and Sosnovy Bor, Russia.
A U.S. expert will participate in the first of a series of Leningrad NPP probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) working group meetings in accordance with the project schedule. Objectives include resolving current development issues, scheduling activities, and completing development tasks. The U.S. expert will provide technical support to Leningrad plant staff, assist with project activities, and review compliance with contracted deliverables. Developing PSA system descriptions supports the needs of the PSA and deterministic safety assessment working groups. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

December 7-17 -- Moscow, Russia.
U.S. team members will meet with representatives of the Kurchatov Institute and Gosatomnadzor to determine details of program support to RELAP5 validation efforts for its applications to VVER and RBMK safety analyses in Russia. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

December 8-13 -- Slavutych, Ukraine.
Technical staff from the U.S. program and contractor Parsons Power Group, Inc., will present a conceptual design of dust suppression equipment to Chornobyl NPP staff. Discussions will cover specifications for radio communications, fall-protection equipment, filters, vacuums, and other tools to meet regulatory restraints and customer needs. (Frank Goldner, DOE, 301-902-2025)

*Date changed December 9-10 -- Taipei, Taiwan.
DOE and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory representatives will give a presentation on U.S. Program efforts to upgrade the safety of Soviet-designed nuclear power plants. (Dennis Meyers, DOE, 301-903-1418)

December 9-10 -- Dimitrovgrad, Russia.
Program staff will discuss courses on the Systematic Approach to training with representatives of the Scientific Research Institute of Atomic Reactors, to improve the performance of personnel and the safety of the research reactors. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

December 9-13 -- Argonne, Illinois.
A meeting will be held at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) for the Novovoronezh Units 3 and 4 safety assessment. The detailed workscope and an estimated schedule and effort will be developed. Participants from Rosenergoatom, Novovoronezh NPP, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), and ANL are expected to attend. (Jordi Roglans, ANL, 630-252-3283) (Workshop No. 96-139, Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6554)

*December 9-19, 1996 -- Washington, D.C.; Indian Point 3 NPP; Fitzpatrick NPP, USA.
Delegates from Russia and Ukraine will participate in workshops on safe shutdown analysis. Presentations will be made by U.S. team members and representatives from Bechtel, Burns & Roe, University of Maryland, and Engineering Planning and Management, Inc. (EPM). Meetings will be held with NRC and U.S. utility staff. Participants will tour two NPPs to examine upgrades to satisfy fire safety requirements. The purpose of these workshops is to determine how to modify the Reactor Core Protection Evaluation Methodology for adoption as standards in Russia and Ukraine. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

December 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 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 11-20 -- Kyiv and Slavutych, Ukraine.
U.S. program staff will upgrade key components of the telecommunications links to the United States, train Ukrainian technical staff on satellite computer network maintenance, and oversee the first computer video- conference at the Chornobyl Center. (George Sherwood, DOE, 301-903-4162)

*December 14-19 --Kyiv and Slavutych, Ukraine.
U.S. experts will discuss development of the Chornobyl Center for Nuclear Safety, Radioactive Waste and Radioecology with the G-7 Nuclear Safety Working Group. They will evaluate potential facilities to house the center and discuss the possibility of Italian participation with representatives of that country. (Kristen Suokko, DOE, 202-586-5559)

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 the inspection program is developed and revised. (Robert Moffitt, PNNL, 509-372-4108) (Workshop No. 96-108; Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6554)

December 16-20, 1996 Moscow, Russia.
The Kola In-Depth Safety Analysis (KOLISA) project team will review progress on the completion of KOLISA Project Guidelines as well as the status of the RELAP5 input deck for Kola Unit 4. Expected to attend are representatives from ANL, Science Applications International Corporation, and the KOLISA project team. (Jeff Binder, ANL, 630-252-7265)

December 16-20 --Parr, South Carolina.
Representatives from VVER-440/213 working groups will meet for emergency operating instruction training with U.S. experts at V.C. Summer NPP. (Larry Sherfey, PNNL, 509-372-4080) (Workshop No. 96-105; Travel Coordinator Gail Flora, PNNL, 509-375-6654)

December 16-21 -- London, England.
A U.S. program technical expert will attend the Ignalina Safety Panel review meeting for the Ignalina Safety Analysis Report (SAR) and the reports of the SAR task teams. The expert will help the safety panel draft the final report summary and determine how it might be applied beneficially by the Lithuanian regulator. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

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)

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) (Workshop No. 97-003; Travel Coordinator Melinda Stone, PNNL, 509-375-4391)

*TBD -- Kursk NPP, Russia.
Sonalysts, Inc. staff will work with Kursk NPP training staff to develop a training program on Mechanical Maintenance as part of the training technology transfer program. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

January 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 work with Balakovo NPP training staff to continue developing the Safety Inspector training course. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575) (Workshop No. 97-004; Travel Coordinator Melinda Stone, PNNL, 509-375-4391) 

*January 13-24 -- Washington, DC; Fitzpatrick NPP, USA.
Instructors from the U.S. Program and contractors Bechtel, Burns & Roe, the University of Maryland, and EPM will train Russian NPP staff and regulators in the Reactor Core Protection Evaluation Methodology, which will be applied in a pilot study in Russia. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

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 implement the pilot Chemical Operator training course. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

January 26 -February 21 -- Aiken, South Carolina.
As part of the training technology transfer program, representatives from Russian VVERs and Bilibino NPP will attend a course on the Systematic Approach to Training and instructor skills. General Physics and Sonalysts staff will present the course, which includes a visit to a U.S. NPP training center. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575) (Workshop No. 97-005; Travel Coordinator Melinda Stone, PNNL, 509-375-4391)

*January 29-February 7 -- Washington, D.C.; Fitzpatrick NPP, USA.
Instructors from the U.S. team and contractors Bechtel, Burns & Roe, the University of Maryland, and EPM will train Ukrainian NPP staff and regulators in the Reactor Core Protection Evaluation Methodology, which will be applied in a pilot study in Ukraine. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

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 3-14 -- Balakovo NPP, Russia.
Sonalysts, Inc. staff will meet with Balakovo NPP training staff to assist in implementing the Radiation Protection Technician pilot training course. Personnel from the Chornobyl NPP training staff will also attend. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

*February 17-24 -- Waterford, Connecticut.
Staff from the Balakovo NPP will work with U.S. contractor Sonalysts, Inc. to develop materials for the Safety Inspector training program. (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) (Workshop No. 97-006; Travel Coordinator Melinda Stone, PNNL, 509-375-4391)

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

*March 17-28 -- Waterford, Connecticut.
Personnel from the Chornobyl NPP training development group will work with staff from Sonalysts, Inc. on the Radiation Protection Technician training course. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

*Date Changed March 17-28 -- Khmelnytskyy NPP, Ukraine.
General Physics Corporation will work with staff of Khmelnytskyy NPP 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.