July - September 2001 Contents Highlight

Armenia Bulgaria Czech Republic Hungary

Kazakhstan Lithuania Russia Slovakia

Ukraine United States Cross-Cutting Activities Planned Activities

Armenia

Armenia safety analysis data collection and model development discussed

Representatives from the Slovakian Nuclear Power Plant Research Institute (VUJE), Armatom, the Armenia Nuclear Power Plant, and ANL met in late July to discuss issues related to data collection in support of thermal-hydraulics calculations for the Armenia plant. The main focus of the project is to carry out design-basis and beyond-design-basis accident analysis calculations with the RELAP5 thermal-hydraulics computer code. During this meeting, the participants addressed the collection of data needed to complete the modeling and concluded that most of the needed data either has been assembled or that reliable sources have been identified to develop the remaining material. Only two data areas were identified for which assistance will be required: 1) fuel and structural properties and 2) fuel design. Only the fuel supplier or another Russian organization that has access to the information (e.g., the reactor designer) can supply the fuel design data. Fuel and structural properties data could be obtained from the sources identified above or possibly from a VVER database, if one has been compiled. Collection of this data could prove challenging; however, the assessment will continue during the model development.

The ANL representative met with a representative of the Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States (TACIS) program, which is supporting the Armenia nuclear plant in developing improved emergency operating instructions (EOIs). TACIS also is supporting the development of a RELAP5 model to be used for the thermal-hydraulics calculations to verify the EOIs. A team at the University of Pisa is managing the model development work, and Gidropress is being contracted to carry out the calculations. Other cooperative efforts in this area are being investigated.

In early August, Armatom, in cooperation with the Armenia plant, provided a data reference assessment report to VUJE, which then completed its own report by mid-August. A rudimentary RELAP5 model was produced several years ago under support from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to simulate only the primary loop. This model will be the starting point of the current effort, and the model has been supplied to VUJE. A workshop for specialists from Armatom and the Armenia plant will be held this fall to continue development of the RELAP5 model. To prepare for this workshop, a nodalization scheme will be developed for the secondary loop. The goal is to produce a model validated against plant steady-state data by mid-December. (Walt Pasedag, NNSA, 301-903-3628; Phil Pizzica, ANL, 630-252-4847)

Physical protection upgrades at Armenia plant reviewed

A PNNL technical specialist met with representatives of the Armenia Nuclear Power Plant Physical Security Working Group in early August to review and discuss proposed design criteria for installation of short-term and long-term physical security needs and/or upgrades for the protection of identified critical nuclear facilities and activities at the plant. The group also reviewed the overall Physical Protections Upgrades Project and the newly installed Service Water System (SWS) for design compliance with national and international laws, regulations, and requirements, and recommended upgrades to the physical and technical security perimeter as necessary. Discussions included prioritization of upgrades and the possibility of integrating the SWS security upgrade project into the Physical Protection Upgrades Project. (Grigory Trosman, NNSA, 301-903-3581; Denver Greer, PNNL, 509-372-4839)

Seismic inspection capability and proper safety culture established at Armenia plant

In early August, a representative from ANL visited the Armenia Nuclear Power Plant for a seismic safety inspection and to discuss safety assessment projects with Armatom, the Armenian technical support organization for the plant. The seismic inspection reviewed corrective actions taken since the previous inspection performed in September 2000, components that were not part of the September 2000 inspection, and examined components that require additional analysis to assess their safety. All findings from the September 2000 inspection regarding corrective maintenance, assessment of safe-shutdown procedures, and analysis to confirm that further corrective action is not needed have been addressed.

Independent inspections performed in early 2001 resulted in implementation of necessary changes. This level of response indicates that INSP assistance has been influential in building a seismic inspection capability and a proper safety culture at the power plant. A final seismic inspection is planned during the plant outage in 2002. (Dennis Meyers, NNSA, 301-903-1418; Mark Petri, ANL, 630-252-3719)

Preliminary Armatom internal web site established

Software recently installed on Armatom computers enabled setup of a preliminary internal web site that will become public once a final Internet connection is established. A specialist from ANL met with representatives of the nuclear research institute Armatom to discuss plans for a new partner web site located in Armenia that will complement an existing network of INSC
web sites previously established at ANL, the Moscow INSC, Kyiv University, the Lithuanian Energy Institute, and the National Technology and Science Center in Kazakhstan. Available vendors, equipment, strategies, and services were evaluated to provide a reliable Internet connection to Armatom using either a radio modem connection or a telephone-system based DSL connection. (Dennis Meyers, NNSA, 301-903-1418; Hubert Ley, ANL, 630-252-8224)

Armenia plant safety upgrade activities reviewed

In early September, representatives the Armenia Nuclear Power Plant, the U.S. State Department, Burns & Roe, and Battelle met to review the status of current projects and to discuss potential future projects in support of upgrading the safety of the plant. The plant currently is shut down for maintenance and refueling. Negotiations for the supply of fuel have been completed, and the plant is scheduled to return to power in mid-October. The following FY 2002 activities were reviewed.

• Plant computer. Atomenergoproekt-Nizhny Nogoroad has provided the system specifications document to Burns & Roe. This is the highest priority project for FY 2002.
• Auxiliary feedwater system. In progress and will be completed during the current outage. Final testing will occur in the two weeks following plant startup.
• Emergency condenser. In progress and will be completed during the current outage.
• Safety analysis equipment. Will be completed at the end of the curren outage.
• Service water system. Burns & Roe authorized the Armenia nuclear plant to initiate work for dust control. The development of specifications for chemistry control by Ural-VTI will be issued in mid-October. Installation of this service water system is planned for the summer outage 2002.
• Turbine generator seals/motor generator sets. Seals are installed in one turbine-generator. The remaining seals and the motor generator sets will be installed in the summer 2002 outage.

In addition, a list of high priority future upgrade projects was developed. Burns & Roe will help determine upgrade costs and safety significance so that priorities can be established. (Dennis Meyers, NNSA, 301-903-1418; Richard Denning, Battelle, 614-424-7412)

U.S. State Department representative visits Armenia plant

Mr. Warren Stern, U.S. State Department, and a representative of Battelle met with representatives of the Armenian Ministry of Energy and the Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Agency to discuss energy supply for the future in Armenia and for a tour of the Armenia Nuclear Power Plant. Deputy Energy Minister, Mr. Areg Galstyan, made a presentation that promoted the continued operation of the Armenia nuclear plant through at least 2008. (Dennis Meyers, NNSA, 301-903-1418; Richard Denning, Battelle, 614-424-7412)

Simulator instructor meeting focuses on improved training materials

In mid-September, a two-week working session that focused on Simulator Instructor Training Skills was held at the Armenia Nuclear Power Plant. During this working period, the plant's simulator instructors received training that will help them improve existing and future simulator training materials. Training specialists from the U.S. firm Sonalysts Inc. and from the Russian Institute for Nuclear Plant Operations led the course. (John Yoder, DOE, 301-903-5650; Don Draper, PNNL, 509-372-4079)