Dec/Jan/Feb 2000/2001 Contents Highlight

Armenia Bulgaria Czech Republic Hungary

Kazakhstan Lithuania Russia Slovakia

Ukraine United States Cross-Cutting Activities Planned Activities

Armenia

Major upgrades completed at Armenia Unit 2
During the outage ending in early December 2000, major projects involving the nuclear service water system, the main steam isolation valves, and the fire detection and alarm system were completed at Armenia Unit 2.

• The largest of the projects was design, construction, and start-up of a new nuclear service water system, which relies on two spray ponds to reject heat from safety-related equipment. Previously, all cooling water was provided through four cooling towers, which would have been vulnerable to failure in a seismic event. The new system consists of two independent cooling trains, each of which are qualified to withstand a design basis earthquake. Burns & Roe provided management support for this project. Much of the contracted effort was performed by local Armenian organizations.

• Seven fast-acting main steam isolation valves also were installed in the plant. These valves provide protection against steam line breaks that could potentially result in thermal shock to the reactor pressure vessel. The previously installed valves responded very slowly and were unreliable. The new valves are controlled automatically so the response time is much faster. Burns & Roe provided management support for this project. Hopkinson Ltd. in England supplied the valves, and the U.S. firm, Enertech, supplied the valve actuators.

• Finally, installation of a new fire detection and alarm system was completed, the detectors were programmed, and the system was tested. The old and the new systems will work in parallel while plant operators become familiar with the new system. Over the next year, automatic actuation of equipment will be transferred section by section from the old system to the new system. Cerberus, a Swiss firm, supplied the detection equipment, and Burns & Roe provided management support.

(Dennis Meyers, NNSA, 301-903-1418; Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

Development of Water Chemistry training at Armenia continues
A training specialist from Sonalysts Inc. worked with trainers and technical specialists at Armenia nuclear plant for 2 weeks in late November and early December to continue development of a pilot training program in Water Chemistry. This visit was the second of three working visits being conducted to develop this training program for the facility.

During this visit, task analysis for the Chemistry Department Shift Supervisor pilot training program was completed, and development of program material commenced. Material previously developed for pilot implementations of Water Chemistry training programs that have been transferred to other Soviet-designed reactors is being modified as appropriate for application to the Armenia plant. Plans for the final working visit also were discussed. (John Yoder, DOE, 301-903-5650; Don Draper, PNNL, 509-372-4079)

Nuclear Safety Council discusses safety and reliability issues at Armenia plant
In early January, the Armenian Nuclear Safety Council met in Tsakhadzorto to discuss issues related to safe and reliable operation of the Armenia nuclear power plant. The President of Armenia, who sponsors the Nuclear Safety Council meetings, attended most of the January meeting and was supported by representatives of the Armenian Ministry of Energy, and Armenian regulator, utility, and technical-support organizations. Council members from Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Russia and a U.S. specialist from Future Resources Associates also participated in the meeting. (Dennis Meyers, NNSA, 301-903-1418; Lief Erickson, PNNL, 509-372-4097)