May 10, 1996
Prepared by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington

RUSSIA

VVER-440/230 Working Group. Metsamor nuclear power plant (NPP) in Armenia formally has announced the plant's commitment to participate as a full-time member in the working groups for management and operational controls and VVER-440/230 emergency operating instructions (EOIs). If an official invitation from Metsamor NPP is received, the next meeting of the VVER-440/230 EOI working group will be held in Armenia to expedite Metsamor NPP's EOI development effort. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

Safety Parameter Display System (SPDS). Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) signed a contract with Parsons Power Group (Gilbert/Commonwealth) and its subcontractor, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, to provide ten SPDSs to Soviet-designed nuclear reactors, including one at Chornobyl's Unit 3 reactor. The systems are located in NPP control rooms. They automatically and graphically display the status of critical plant safety functions and determine whether these functions are operating within safe ranges. The systems display this information in an explicit and easy-to-understand format on control room consoles. During abnormal conditions, operators use the system to assess the need to implement emergency operating procedures. (James A. Anderson, PNNL, 509-372-4721)

Russian Training Technology Transfer. Representatives from Atomtechenergo, Balakovo NPP, Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Minatom, Rosenenergoatom, and VNIIAES met in Moscow, Russia April 22-25, 1996. The attendees developed and agreed upon a Russian training technology transfer proposal and a plan of action. VNIIAES will lead coordinating and scheduling initial in-country activities. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

Russian Special Training Courses. Representatives from Balakovo NPP and the Minatom Institute for Upgrading Training reviewed the proposed management training course and approved the proposed outline of instruction. BNL will continue development of the course. The attendees agreed that the Minatom Institute for Upgrading Training will participate in future reviews and evaluations of the management training course. The Institute plans to develop a management training and qualification program for senior managers at all Russian NPPs and would like to use the Balakovo course as one of its basic courses. This situation presents U.S. participants with a unique opportunity to become directly involved with training programs for senior-level NPP managers across Russia. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

Balakovo Training. The Balakovo Training Manager reported on the status of the Balakovo NPP training program to BNL. Training development activities are on schedule and no significant problems were reported. Staff at Balakovo NPP continue to make significant progress in developing their own training courses. The attendees decided that the twelfth training program will be for safety and technical inspectors. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

RBMK Maintenance Improvement Project. PNNL staff in Moscow, Russia, are distributing materials from the Electric Power Research Institute's (EPRI) Nuclear Maintenance Applications Center to all members of the RBMK Maintenance Advisory Board and the Smolensk Training Center. As new members of EPRI's Nuclear Maintenance Applications Center, the RBMK Maintenance Advisory Board and the Smolensk Training Center are now eligible to receive these materials.

Ignalina NPP requested a pipe-cutting lathe in March 1996 as part of their RBMK maintenance improvement project. The lathe is scheduled for delivery by May 17, 1996. This will be in time for the start of outage work on the main coolant loop in the reactor. (Tom Vehec, PNNL, 509-372-4072)

Smolensk Training Center. The Smolensk Training Center is responsible for training the instructors from the five RBMK NPPs. Representatives from the Center have requested additional equipment to accomplish this task. Staff from PNNL and the Smolensk Training Center are negotiating details of the request.

General Energy Technologies (GET) responded to a request for proposal to purchase pumps to be used for training in the vibration analysis and laser alignment equipment at the Smolensk Training Center. Laser alignment and vibration analysis are the first technologies to be transferred to the RBMK Maintenance Advisory Board members. The Smolensk Training Center has identified members of their staff who will serve as instructors for this course. (Tom Vehec, PNNL, 509-372-4072)

American Nuclear Society Meeting. The International Nuclear Safety Program (INSP) sponsored the participation of three individuals, one each from the Kurchatov Institute, VNIIAES, and OINPE at the American Nuclear Society Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human Machine Interface Technologies, which was held at Penn State University from May 6-9, 1996. While at this meeting, representatives from PNNL, DOE and consultants to INSP met with representatives from the Kurchatov Institute to discuss in-core monitoring system improvements for VVER reactors and other instrumentation and control needs in Soviet-designed reactors. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412; Norm Fletcher, DOE, 301-903-3275)

Confinement Isolation Projects at Kola NPP. The confinement isolation projects at Kola Unit 2 are nearing completion. On May 1, 1996, the additional gasket material required to complete sealing of the remaining penetrations was received at the plant. This material will be installed prior to restart of the NPP later this month. Installation of the eleven confinement isolation valves also is close to completion. With the exception of a calibration source, the confinement radiation monitoring system is at the plant. Installation of the cables for the detectors has begun. Prior to restart, a confinement leak-rate test will be performed, which should indicate the extent to which sealing measures have been effective in reducing the confinement leakage. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

UKRAINE

Safety Parameter Display System (SPDS). See item under "Russia."

Chornobyl Training. Representatives from Chornobyl NPP completed the Advanced Systems Approach to Training (SAT) and Instructor Skills training program at General Physics in Aiken, South Carolina. During the 4-week training session, the Chornobyl staff developed and validated a task list for the control room reactor operator (CRRO) position. Development of the CRRO training program will continue in Ukraine with ongoing support from the United States. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Kozloduy Training Center Support. Personnel from Kozloduy began the advanced SAT and Instructor Skills training at General Physics in Aiken, SC. The Kozloduy staff are focused on developing training programs for their control room reactor operators and reactor repair technicians. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

Nuclear Safety Assistance Program Review Meeting. The next program reviews covering the U. S. assistance to the Czech Republic and Hungary are scheduled for June 10-12, 1996, in Prague and June 13-17, 1996, in Budapest. The last review meeting was held in March 1995. Based on information obtained at these reviews, the U.S. team will make recommendations to DOE management for future funding. (Nicholas Grossman, DOE, 301-903-3299)

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

May 11-17 -- Moscow, Russia.
Representatives from DOE and PNNL will participate in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) support group meetings. This group is studying the safety research needs for the VVER and RBMK reactors. (Colette Brown, DOE, 301-903-6924)

May 11-18 -- Kaunas, Lithuania.
PNNL representatives will participate in the IAEA workshop on RBMK Fuel Channel Integrity. This workshop will serve as a forum for exchanging experience on the aspects and measures related to fuel channel integrity in channel-type reactors. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

May 11-25 -- Balakovo NPP, Russia.
Balakovo NPP staff and Sonalysts personnel will continue development of the Electrical Operations and Instrumentation and Control Operations pilot training courses as well as the Administrative Procedures Manual and Simulator Instructor specialized training projects. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

May 12-16 -- Moscow, Russia.
EOI analytical work performed by VNIIAES, Gidropress, and the Kurchatov Institute in support of VVER-440/213 plants will be the focus of meetings to be held in Moscow. U.S. industry representatives will be available to present EOI analysis methodology and offer strategy suggestions. U.S. project representatives will attend to discuss current and future tasks involved in this effort. (Walt Pasedag, DOE, 301-903-3628)

May 12-19 -- Moscow, Russia.
PNNL Contracts staff and Gilbert/Commonwealth staff will meet with MOHT regarding 1) EOI contracts and tasks associated with analytical work performed by VNIIAES, Gidropress, and the Kurchatov Institute in support of VVER-440/213 EOIs, and 2) contracts for the Novovoronezh NPP emergency water supply project. Meetings will also be held with Rosenergoatom about contract issues. (Doug Dahl, PNNL, 509-375-6855)

May 13-14 -- Kyiv, Ukraine.
Representatives of DOE, PNNL, and EPRI will meet with Goscomatom to reach a final position on the safety significance of a Ukrainian requested project for an In-Core Control and Monitoring System (ICCS) for VVER-1000 plants. The team also will initiate new projects in instrumentation and control, specifically the safety parameter display systems for Rivne. (Rich Reister, DOE, 301-903-0234)

*May 13-16 -- London, England.
A representative from DOE will brief the members of the Nuclear Safety Account of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on the U.S. bilateral initiatives for the Chornobyl sarcophagus. (Kristen Suokko, DOE, 202-586-5559)

May 13-17 -- Kyiv, Ukraine.
Staff from DOE and PNNL will meet with representatives of Goscomaton to discuss quality assurance and event analysis and reporting. Some NPP representatives may attend. In addition, meetings will be held about the status and issues of the three operational safety projects for Chornobyl NPP, the EOI project, and the management and operational safety project. (Dennis Meyers, DOE, 202-586-7834)

May 13-24 -- Trnava, Slovak Republic.
A workshop at the Trnava Training Center will help with the development and implementation of the hardware and software for upgrading the analytical simulator located at the Trnava Training Center. In addition, staff from BNL and the Trnava Training Center will prepare the schedules and plans for the final implementation of the analytical simulator upgrades and the validation and verification program. (George Sherwood, DOE, 301-903-4162)

May 14-17 -- Chornobyl NPP, Ukraine.
General Physics staff will travel to the Chornobyl NPP to continue work on training programs. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

*May 15-23 -- Slavutych, Ukraine.
A team from the United States will meet with representatives from Chornobyl NPP and the Ministry of Chornobyl to begin planning solutions to the problems related to the sarcophagus that covers the damaged Unit 4 reactor at Chornobyl NPP. The immediate objectives are to quickly address problems with the sarcophagus that Ukraine cannot solve without outside technology and expertise and to participate with the European Union in the development of a cost-effective and environmentally sound solution to the sarcophagus problem. The U.S. team includes representatives from DOE, PNNL, ICF Kaiser, and Neil F. Lampson, Inc. (Dan Giessing, DOE, 301-903-2852)

*May 16-17 -- Kyiv, Ukraine.
Representatives of DOE will meet with the State Fire Service of Ukraine and Goscomatom to discuss the performance of safe shutdown studies for fires and associated plant upgrades for pilot plants in Ukraine. The safe shutdown studies would be performed using the Reactor Core Protection Evaluation Guidelines under development in the INSP for Soviet-designed reactors. (Chuck Ramsey, DOE, 301-903-5999)

May 17-25 -- Kyiv, Ukraine.
PNNL staff will participate in the RBMK working group meeting. The working group includes representatives from all RBMK NPPs, RDIPE, Rosenergoatom, Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), GAN and U.S. utilities. At this meeting the working group plans to review assigned EOI development work, provide a management review of development status and planning, and provide an assessment of training needs. (Sam McKay, PNNL, 509-372-4059)

May 18-25 -- Kyiv, Ukraine and Moscow, Russia.
PNNL staff will participate in meetings at Kyiv and Moscow to reach agreement on the scope and objectives of the non-destructive evaluation initiative. Russian, Ukrainian and United States attendees will jointly develop near-term project activities. (Dennis Meyers, DOE, 202-586-7834)

May 20-22 -- Lithuania.
Representatives from BNL, DOE, and the U.S. Agency for International Development will meet with representatives from the Ministry of Energy, Ignalina NPP, and other Lithuanian nuclear organizations on the status and issues of current projects within Lithuania. (Dennis Meyers, DOE, 202-586-7834)

May 20-31 -- Aiken, South Carolina.
Staff from the Khmelnytskyy NPP and General Physics will continue development of the Chemical Operator Pilot Training Course. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

May 26-29 -- Smolensk NPP, Russia.
Staff from PNNL and Nuclid will attend a series of management discussions with the staff and management of Smolensk NPP. Topics include the role of the new contract participant, contracting issues, and the present level of NPP support for EOI development. (Sam McKay, PNNL, 509-372-4059)

June 3 -- Rivne NPP, Ukraine.
The VVER-440/213 working group will hold its quarterly meeting at Rivne NPP. The group will review EOIs produced at participating NPPs, NPP training plans, and NPP plans for verification and validation of EOIs. U.S. utility representatives will present the U.S. methodology on related topics. The meeting will also follow up on outstanding issues from the last meeting in November 1995. The working group will review information from the EOI analysis meeting held in Moscow, Russia, in May. (Larry Sherfey, PNNL, 509-372-4080)

*June 3-4 -- Moscow, Russia.
Representatives of BNL, DOE, and PNNL will meet with VNIIAES, Rosenergoatom and the State Fire Service of Russia to discuss cooperation in fire risk and safe shutdown studies at Russian NPPs. (Chuck Ramsey, DOE, 301-903-5999)

*June 10-14 -- Doel NPP, Belgium.
The project team for developing and implementing management and operational controls procedures will meet at Doel NPP, Belgium. The meeting is being coordinated by the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO). This location was chosen to allow the opportunity to study the implementation of similar procedures at a non-U.S. and non-Soviet designed NPP. The team will also conduct technical reviews of draft procedures and take the necessary steps to complete implementation of the procedures at pilot plants in countries with Soviet-designed NPPs. Attendees include representatives from Armenia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine, and the United States. (Dennis Meyers, DOE, 202-586-7834)

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

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.