July 12, 1996
Prepared by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington

RUSSIA

Leningrad Plant-Specific Safety and Risk Analysis. Representatives from INSP met on July 3 and 4 with the Research and Development Institute of Power Engineering (RDIPE) to finalize the statements of work for the Leningrad Plant-Specific Safety and Risk Analysis. The effort is a multilateral cooperative agreement. Sweden and the United Kingdom are funding a probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) of Leningrad Unit 2; the United States is providing the necessary deterministic analysis, system descriptions, and selected system engineering assessments to support the PRA. Project objectives are to assess the impact of recent safety improvements to Leningrad Unit 2 and to establish a common perspective pertaining to RBMK severe accident risk and mitigation.

Before the meeting, U.S. participants had prepared and proposed to RDIPE detailed statements of work and examples of expected deliverables, costs, and schedules. With minor changes, the work statements were agreed to by all parties and RDIPE agreed to begin activities in August 1996. PNNL will revise the detailed work scopes and RDIPE agreed to prepare a fixed-price proposal consistent with the agreements reached in Vienna in April 1996. All agreements and work activities have been integrated with PRA needs schedules, and requirements. (Gary L. Smith, PNNL, 509-375-4482; Sam McKay, PNNL, 509-372-4059)

Novovoronezh Safety Parameter Display System. Burns and Roe has issued a request for proposal for a U.S. vendor for the safety parameter display system (SPDS) for Novovoronezh Unit 3. The proposals will also include options for additional SPDS units for VVER-440/230 and VVER-440/213 plants. The U.S. vendor will work with and transfer technology to the Russian firm ConSyst. In addition to providing an SPDS for the Novovoronezh plant, a developmental unit will be provided to ConSyst for use in developing displays and making future upgrades of the system. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412; Norman Fletcher, DOE, 301-903-3275)

UKRAINE

Plant Safety Evaluation Sites. A July 1, 1996, letter from N. Nigmatullin of Derzcomatom, the Ukrainian State Committee on Nuclear Power Utilization, notified the International Nuclear Safety Program that lead reactor units have been selected for the in-depth plant safety evaluations in Ukraine. Zaporizhzhya Unit 5 will represent the VVER-1000/320 reactor series. The South Ukraine NPP Unit 1 is designated as the lead unit for earlier versions (V-302 and V-328) of VVER-1000 reactors. To implement the probabilistic risk assessment for Zaporizhzhya Unit 5, a U.S. contractor will be selected to provide project management and technical expertise. After the contractor is selected, an early September meeting with Derzcomatom is planned in Kyiv to begin the project. (Christian A. Kot, ANL, 708-252-6151)

Training Activities at Khmelnytskyy NPP. During the period June 24 through 28, General Physics personnel held a working session at the Khmelnytskyy NPP. Khmelnytskyy staff have increased the number of full-time instructors at the training center from 3 to 19. They continue to meet milestones for the development of the Refueling Floor Operator, Chemical Operator, and Control Room Reactor Operator training courses. During the working session, Khmelnytskyy staff provided two sets of deliverables for technical review. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

Probabilistic Risk Assessment Training. Scientech, Inc., has completed 3 weeks of PRA training in Kyiv for Ukrainian participants. From June 10 to June 14, Scientech presented an overview course on PRA methods and principles at the Energoprojekt Kyiv Institute. A 2-week training workshop (June 17 to June 28) on computational methods in PRA followed. In addition to familiarizing the Ukrainian participants with the IRRAS computer code, the workshop covered practical aspects of failure mode and effects analysis, human reliability analysis, development of fault and event trees, selection of success criteria and initiating events, and risk screening. Participants in the courses included staff from the Energoprojekt Institutes (Kyiv and Kharkiv), the Nuclear Research Institute, and the South Ukraine, Rivne, and Zaporizhzhya NPPs. (Christian A. Kot, ANL, 708 252 6151)

RELAP Training for Ukrainian Analysts. A RELAP workshop for nine Ukrainian analysts was held at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). Nodalization schemes were completed for the important subsystems of a VVER-1000, i.e., the reactor vessel, the primary system and secondary system, including the steam generator. Generic data from the literature as well as plant-specific data (South Ukraine Unit 1) were used in the modeling. Missing data were identified. Emphasis in the workshop was on the preparation of validated input decks. The objective was to prepare and check out a RELAP input-deck/model based as much as possible on plant-specific data for a VVER-1000 reactor in Ukraine. (Christian A. Kot, ANL, 708 252 6151)

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Ignalina NPP. A task order was issued to Halliburton NUS to develop a project work plan and schedule for the replacement or upgrade of qualified, state-of-the-art instrumentation and control modules with superior reliability at the Ignalina NPP. Meetings are scheduled for the week of July 15, 1996, in Vilnius, Lithuania. (Andrea L. Fernandez, PNNL, 509-375-2649)

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

ESREL 96 - PSAM III CONFERENCE. PNNL attended, as a presenter, the PSAM III conference, June 24 through 28. The conference represented the merging of two major risk-based technical conferences: the European- based ESREL conference and the U.S.- based PSAM conference. The conference objective was to promote communication about experiences and relevant applications of system-based approaches to improve design and operation of technological systems. The PNNL paper, "Application of Risk Assessment Results in the Development of RBMK EOIs," addressed the combined activities of the U.S. Department of Energy and Swedish SIP-funded projects to develop emergency operating instruction (EOIs) for the Ignalina NPPs (Soviet-designed RBMK systems in Lithuania). Western international interest appears to focus on reducing the risk presented by the continued operation of Soviet-designed reactor systems in neighboring countries. Panel members repeatedly expressed concern about the uncertainty of available assessment results and reiterated the international community's desire to continue supporting activities aimed toward better understanding the design and operation of Soviet-designed reactor systems. Three-hundred sixty-three technical papers were presented at the conference, held in Crete, Greece. (Sam McKay, PNNL, 509-372-4059)

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

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

*July 15-20 -- Khmelnytskyy NPP, Ukraine.
Representatives from INSP and S3 Technologies will visit Energotraining, Kyiv, where the control panels for full-scope simulators are being completed. The main panel sections, Units 1-6, will be inspected before shipment. A visit to the Khmelnytskyy NPP is also planned to determine the status of the Training Center, which must be ready to accept the delivery of the control panels. (Dan Giessing, DOE, 301-903-2852)

July 13-18 -- Visaginas, Lithuania.
A team of INSP specialists will begin meetings on the Ignalina NPP Unit 2 Module Upgrade Project. The project will design, manufacture, and deliver replacement safety instrumentation and control modules to the plant. (Norm Fletcher, DOE, 301-903-3275)

July 15-17 -- Paris, France.
There will be a third and final meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) support group on Soviet-designed nuclear reactors. Participants are expected to approve their final draft report. (John Honekamp, PNNL, 509-372-6415)

July 15-19 -- Balakovo NPP, Russia.
Sonalysts, Inc. personnel and Balakovo NPP staff will implement the pilot electrical operations training course. They will continue development of pilot training courses on electrical maintenance, water chemistry and radiation protection and specialized training for simulator instructors. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

*July 15-19 -- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Westinghouse, Parsons Power, and RDIPE personnel will meet with Gosatomnadzor (GAN) representatives to compare U.S. standards for safety parameter display systems with Russian standards for similar instrumentation and control systems. This activity is part of the independent regulatory review being performed by the GAN Scientific and Technical Center for the Kursk safety parameter display system. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

July 15-26 -- Chornobyl NPP, Ukraine.
General Physics and Chornobyl specialists will work on the continued development of the control room reactor operator training program. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

* Canceled*July 19-August 3 -- Armenia Nuclear Power Station, Armenia.
INSP team members will meet with Armenian Nuclear Power Station staff for discussions on EOIs, management and operational safety, and training. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

*July 21-26 -- Moscow, Russia.
Members of the Kola In-Depth Safety Analysis (KOLISA) project team will meet to review and develop project guidelines and plans. (Jeff Binder, ANL, 708-252-7265)

July 21-27 -- TRNAVA Training Center, Slovakia.
Representatives from INSP, Sonalysts and General Physics will work with TRNAVA training center staff to conduct a training needs analysis. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

July 21- August 2 -- Chornobyl NPP, Ukraine.
General Physics personnel will work with training center and plant staff to develop the control room reactor operator training program. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

* Canceled * July 22-26 -- Brussels, Belgium, and Rivne NPP, Ukraine.
Representatives from Burns and Roe and INSP will meet in Brussels with representatives from a European community program of Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States (TACIS). The team will then travel to Rivne NPP to discuss the activities required to provide a safety parameter display system compatible with the planned TACIS upgrades of the Rivne instrumentation and control systems. (Rich Reister, DOE, 301-903-0234)

*July 22-26 -- Brussels, Belgium.
INSP representatives will participate in a workshop meeting with European Commission (EC) Shelter Project staff. Meeting attendees will review safety goals, discuss design criteria, and establish working group scopes, schedules, and assignments supporting development of measures for safely managing the Chornobyl Unit 4 shelter over both the short and long term. (Dan Giessing, DOE, 301-903-2852)

July 22-26 -- Kursk NPP, Russia.
Site visit for the training technology transfer project. U.S. personnel will be accompanied by Russian participants. (John Yoder, DOE, 301-903-5650)

*July 27-August 3 -- Moscow, Russia.
The semiannual coordinating meeting between DOE and Minatom will be held in Moscow, Russia. INSP management will attend. (Dan Giessing, DOE, 301-903-2852)

July 29-30 -- Leningrad NPP, Russia.
Representatives from INSP, Parsons Power, Westinghouse, Leningrad NPP and RDIPE will meet to reach agreement on specifications for the Leningrad Unit 3 safety parameter display system and sign a memorandum of agreement on roles and responsibilities. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

*July 29-Aug 2 -- Smolensk NPP, Russia.
An INSP representative has been invited to attend a meeting of the RBMK Maintenance Managers at Smolensk NPP the week of July 29. The meeting will focus on the new computerized maintenance work control system (Desna-Remont) installed at Smolensk NPP by Scottish Nuclear under the TACIS Program. Also attending this meeting will be the maintenance managers from all the RBMK sites and representatives from Scottish Nuclear. (Robert Moffitt, PNNL, 509-372-4108)

July 29-August 3 -- Kola NPP, Russia.
Site visit for the training technology transfer project. U.S. personnel will be accompanied by Russian participants. (John Yoder, DOE, 301-903-5650)

*July 30-August 3 -- Chornobyl NPP, Ukraine.
INSP staff will work with Chornobyl staff to review and evaluate progress on the control room reactor operator training program. Together they will identify a second training course and equipment needs. (Sonja Haber, BNL, 516-344-3575)

July TBD -- Kursk NPP, Russia.
U.S. specialists will visit Kursk NPP in Russia to train plant staff in the use of ultrasonic testing equipment and a re-engineered high-temperature suit, which have been recently delivered to the site. (Jim Guppy, BNL, 516-344-2698)

*August 1-2 --Slavutych, Ukraine.
Representatives from INSP, Parsons Power, Westinghouse, Chornobyl NPP, and RDIPE will meet to reach agreement on specifications for the Chornobyl Unit 3 safety parameter display system and sign a memorandum of agreement on roles and responsibilities. (Rich Denning, PNNL, 614-424-7412)

*August 12-23 -- Russia and Ukraine.
Arrangements are being made for INSP specialists to observe nondestructive examination (NDE) activities at NPPs in both Russia and Ukraine in support of the new NDE Projects. Tentative plans are to visit the South Ukraine NPP in Ukraine, then either the Kursk NPP or Smolensk NPP in Russia. The focus of this trip will be to observe actual examinations and inspections to better understand their current capabilities and determine how to augment them most effectively. (Robert Moffitt, PNNL, 509-372-4108)

August 26-30 -- Kola NPP, Russia.
There will be a VVER-440/213 EOI working group meeting at Kola NPP. Representatives from all VVER-440/213 NPPs are scheduled to attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

August 26-30 -- Ignalina NPP, Lithuania.
There will be an RBMK EOI working group meeting at Ignalina NPP. Representatives from all RBMK NPPs are scheduled to attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

September 2-6 -- Bilibino NPP, Russia.
Site visit for the training technology transfer project. U.S. personnel will be accompanied by Russian participants. (John Yoder, DOE, 301-903-5650)

September 9-13 -- Kozloduy NPP, Bulgaria.
There will be a VVER-1000 EOI working group meeting at Kozloduy NPP. Representatives from all VVER-1000 NPPs are scheduled to attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

September 16-20 -- Kalinin NPP, Russia.
Site visit for the training technology transfer project. U.S. personnel will be accompanied by Russian participants. (John Yoder, DOE, 301-903-5650)

October 14-18 -- Smolensk NPP, Russia.
Site visit for the training technology transfer project. U.S. personnel will be accompanied by Russian participants. (John Yoder, DOE, 301-903-5650)

October 21-25 -- Novovoronezh NPP, Russia.
Site visit for the training technology transfer project. U.S. personnel will be accompanied by Russian participants. (John Yoder, DOE, 301-903-5650)

November 4-8 -- Kozloduy NPP, Bulgaria.
There will be a VVER-440/230 EOI working group meeting at Kozloduy NPP. Representatives from all VVER-440/230 NPPs are scheduled to attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

November 4-8 -- Zaporizhzhya NPP, Ukraine.
There will be a VVER-1000 EOI working group meeting at Zaporizhzhya NPP. Representatives from all VVER-1000 NPPs are scheduled to attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

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. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

December 9-13 -- Bohunice NPP, Slovakia.
There will be a VVER-440/213 EOI working group meeting at Bohunice NPP. Representatives from all VVER-440/213 NPPs are scheduled to attend. (Kent Faris, PNNL, 509-372-4068)

*December TBD -- Charlotte, North Caroline.
Plans are being made to bring a group of nondestructive examination (NDE) specialists from Russia and Ukraine to the United States to observe U.S. NDE practices. Tentative plans include visits to the Electric Power Research Institute NDE Center in Charlotte, a U.S. NPP, and the Savannah River Site to observe how they upgraded their inspection program. (Robert Moffitt, PNNL, 509-372-4108)

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.