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Nuclear power safety should be free from politics
25.04.2014
New confinement above Chernobyl sarcophagus in 2015
A new safe confinement will be pulled over the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant sarcophagus in 2015, said Alexander Borovoy, Doctor of Physics and Math, counsellor of the president of the Russian research center Kurchatov Institute, during the online conference hosted by the BelTA website on 25 April.
Alexander Borovoy has worked at the Shelter object in Chernobyl for many years. According to the scientist, work is in progress to create a new safe confinement for the damaged nuclear power plant. The confinement represents a metal arc weighing about 30,000 tonnes. It is being assembled to the west of the well-known sarcophagus (aka the Shelter) and will be pulled over the sarcophagus in 2015.
In his words, the Arc will be the largest pulled-over structure in the history of the mankind. The height of the arc will be even slightly bigger than the central span of the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco.
Asked why the Shelter object, which was built in 1986 to cover the damaged fourth power-generating unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, needs yet another cover, Alexander Borovoy said that the data collected by examining the inside and the construction components of the Shelter object by 1989 revealed that the Shelter represents a hazard to the environment (for instance, due to a strong earthquake) and the hazard will grow stronger with time.
Back then the Kurchatov Institute came up with the concept for an extra-long-term and environmentally safe way to safely store fuel. Plans were made to create yet another hermetically sealed solid shell that would completely isolate the outside environment from the radioactive materials still inside the destroyed power-generating unit. At the same time the shell would offer reliable protection for dismantling the unit.
“It has taken 25 years to overcome technical, organizational, and astronomical financial difficulties in order to see the huge structure now rising at the construction site. The arc costs about €1 billion at present. The project is financed by the Chernobyl Shelter Foundation arranged by donor states,” said Alexander Borovoy.
In his words, the Arc boasts not only a large scale but also a complicated internal structure. Mechanisms for dismantling structures and radioactive materials in the Shelter make up a large part of the Arc.
The expert added that in autumn 2013 the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the Russian nuclear power engineering institute NIKIET signed a protocol on prospective research and development initiatives. The initiatives include the preparation of concepts to decommission the first, second, and third power-generating units of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, concepts to handle radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, and the monitoring and reinforcement of barriers that prevent the propagation of radioactive substances.
Not a technological malfunction but the human factor is the reason behind the Chernobyl tragedy, said Yuri Solovyev, Chairman of the Council of the Belarusian public association Ecological Initiative, during the online conference hosted by the BelTA website on 25 April.
“It has been proven that the human factor was the main reason behind the tragedy in Chernobyl. The considerations that were discarded 20-30 years ago have very vividly demonstrated that fooling around safety matters can have a terrible end. The impact of such errors on the nature and the mankind can last for centuries instead of decades,” he remarked.
The ecologist is convinced that paying close attention to safety matters during the construction and operation of nuclear installations is the main lesson that the mankind has to learn.
In the near future the mankind will not be able to do without nuclear power engineering. It is confirmed by the recent statement made by the Japanese authorities, who intend to continue operating nuclear power plants despite the Fukushima tragedy. Yuri Solovyev underlined that safety must be the overriding concern in the operation of any nuclear installation.
“Very modern designs are worked out these days. They focus on automatic control systems that combine active and passive safeguards. Thanks to them the possibility of emergencies at installations built using the AES-2006 design — the design is used to build the Belarusian nuclear power plant — will be virtually zero,” noted the expert.
However, he went on saying, the situation must be controlled all the time, including safeguards and the personnel employed to operate nuclear installations.
Scientist: Severe safety requirements for modern nuclear power plants
Scientist: Nuclear power safety should be free from politics
Belarus keeps public informed about NPP project
Belarusian specialists are conducting a large-scale information campaign to keep people informed about the progress in the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, Chairman of the Environmental Initiative association Yuri Solovyov said during an online conference on the website of the BelTA News Agency on 25 April.
“Today Belarusian power engineering and nuclear energy experts provide as much information as possible about such a “protected” facility as a nuclear power plant,” he emphasized.
According to the environmentalist, when it comes to the NPP’s impact on environment and human health, construction process, and observation of safety rules, the information is more than exhaustive and accessible.
To illustrate his point, Yuri Solovyov named several most comprehensive and reliable sources of information. These are BelTA’s specialized resource http://atom.belta.by , the website of the Belarusian nuclear power plant http://www.dsae.by and the public information center at the Belarusian NPP in Ostrovets. The center collaborates with all NGOs, including environmental organizations.
“I hope this cooperation will continue,” Yuri Solovyov said.
France, Finland agree to join Belarus NPP monitoring
French and Finnish ecologists are ready to join the public environmental impact monitoring of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (NPP), Chairman of the Council of the Belarusian public association Ecological Initiative Yuri Solovyov told a press conference hosted by BelTA on 25 April.
“Our French and Finnish counterparts confirmed their readiness to take part in the program to monitor the construction of the nuclear power plant in Belarus,” he said.
In his words, the matter pertains to the study of the NPP impact on the flora and fauna of the Viliya river basin not far from the NPP construction site and the impact of the plant on other environmental components in the vicinity. It is expected that this stage of the monitoring program will be launched this year.
Belarusian ecologists are working on the budget necessary for the implementation of these programs and reimbursement of the costs of transfer, catering and staying for foreign colleagues who are expected to partake in the monitoring, Yuri Solovyov said.
A new safe confinement will be pulled over the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant sarcophagus in 2015, said Alexander Borovoy, Doctor of Physics and Math, counsellor of the president of the Russian research center Kurchatov Institute, during the online conference hosted by the BelTA website on 25 April.
Alexander Borovoy has worked at the Shelter object in Chernobyl for many years. According to the scientist, work is in progress to create a new safe confinement for the damaged nuclear power plant. The confinement represents a metal arc weighing about 30,000 tonnes. It is being assembled to the west of the well-known sarcophagus (aka the Shelter) and will be pulled over the sarcophagus in 2015.
In his words, the Arc will be the largest pulled-over structure in the history of the mankind. The height of the arc will be even slightly bigger than the central span of the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco.
Asked why the Shelter object, which was built in 1986 to cover the damaged fourth power-generating unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, needs yet another cover, Alexander Borovoy said that the data collected by examining the inside and the construction components of the Shelter object by 1989 revealed that the Shelter represents a hazard to the environment (for instance, due to a strong earthquake) and the hazard will grow stronger with time.
Back then the Kurchatov Institute came up with the concept for an extra-long-term and environmentally safe way to safely store fuel. Plans were made to create yet another hermetically sealed solid shell that would completely isolate the outside environment from the radioactive materials still inside the destroyed power-generating unit. At the same time the shell would offer reliable protection for dismantling the unit.
“It has taken 25 years to overcome technical, organizational, and astronomical financial difficulties in order to see the huge structure now rising at the construction site. The arc costs about €1 billion at present. The project is financed by the Chernobyl Shelter Foundation arranged by donor states,” said Alexander Borovoy.
In his words, the Arc boasts not only a large scale but also a complicated internal structure. Mechanisms for dismantling structures and radioactive materials in the Shelter make up a large part of the Arc.
The expert added that in autumn 2013 the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the Russian nuclear power engineering institute NIKIET signed a protocol on prospective research and development initiatives. The initiatives include the preparation of concepts to decommission the first, second, and third power-generating units of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, concepts to handle radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, and the monitoring and reinforcement of barriers that prevent the propagation of radioactive substances.
Ecologist: Human factor behind Chernobyl tragedy
“It has been proven that the human factor was the main reason behind the tragedy in Chernobyl. The considerations that were discarded 20-30 years ago have very vividly demonstrated that fooling around safety matters can have a terrible end. The impact of such errors on the nature and the mankind can last for centuries instead of decades,” he remarked.
The ecologist is convinced that paying close attention to safety matters during the construction and operation of nuclear installations is the main lesson that the mankind has to learn.
In the near future the mankind will not be able to do without nuclear power engineering. It is confirmed by the recent statement made by the Japanese authorities, who intend to continue operating nuclear power plants despite the Fukushima tragedy. Yuri Solovyev underlined that safety must be the overriding concern in the operation of any nuclear installation.
“Very modern designs are worked out these days. They focus on automatic control systems that combine active and passive safeguards. Thanks to them the possibility of emergencies at installations built using the AES-2006 design — the design is used to build the Belarusian nuclear power plant — will be virtually zero,” noted the expert.
However, he went on saying, the situation must be controlled all the time, including safeguards and the personnel employed to operate nuclear installations.
Scientist: Severe safety requirements for modern nuclear power plants
Modern requirements for the safety of nuclear power plants are way more severe. The fact was underlined by Andrei Kuzmin, Acting Director General of the United Energy and Nuclear Research Institute Sosny, at the online conference hosted by the BelTA website on 25 April to discuss the state and future of nuclear power engineering.
“Safety is the main condition for the development of nuclear power engineering and you can never get too much safety,” Andrei Kuzmin was convinced.
Analyzing the lessons taught by the Chernobyl disaster and other accidents at nuclear installations all over the world, the scientist remarked: “These accidents have resulted in a review of the entire system used to evaluate the safety of nuclear power plants in favor of more severe requirements. The accidents have demonstrated that apart from highly probable events it is necessary to allow for scenarios, which are highly improbable. It is also necessary to have a working scheme to respond to emergencies”.
As a result of the Chernobyl tragedy designs of power-generating units have been improved by several orders of magnitude. After the Fukushima events following the relevant proposal of the International Atomic Energy Agency the majority of the operational nuclear power plants all over the world have undergone stress tests to assess their safety levels. Such tests are carried out as early as the design stage for the nuclear power plants, which are being designed or are being constructed.
Andrei Kuzmin said that the recruitment of personnel to operate nuclear installations is as important as safety technologies. “The nuclear power industry needs highly qualified personnel, who strictly follow safety procedures and do not deviate from nuclear power plant operating regulations and other requirements,” the scientist was convinced.
Scientist: Current knowledge allows building safe NPPs
The current knowledge in the nuclear power industry allows for designing and building safe nuclear power plants (NPPs), Deputy Director of the Nuclear Safety Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences Rafael Arutyunyan told a press conference hosted by BelTA on 25 April.
When asked on which is the main weakness of modern NPPs: applied technologies, human factor or unpredictability of natural calamities, the scientist noted that “every case is directly connected with the human factor: either at the stage of designing or exploitation.”
“As for the human factor in the Fukushima disaster for instance, the operating organization ignored the peculiarities of the NPP site and did not provide the required modernization measures in time, which would secure the necessary protection for the NPP during the earthquake and tsunami. The Japanese watchdog also failed to perform its function as specifying the requirements for the needed modernization in order to put the Japanese NPPs in compliance with the modern security standards,” Rafael Arutyunyan said.
Scientist: Nuclear power safety should be free from politics
Nuclear power safety should not depend on political, economic or any other factors, Deputy Director of the Nuclear Safety Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences Rafael Arutyunyan told a press conference hosted by BelTA on 25 April.
The Russian scientist pointed to one more important aspect: public perception of radiation accidents regardless their radiological impact is always sharp and leads to serious social and economic consequences. “It is not only the Chernobyl lesson but also the Fukushima accident. The very factor, given the insignificant radiological impact of the Fukushima accident on the personnel and the population, has lead to considerable social and economic consequences,” Rafael Arutyunyan stressed.
According to the media reports, the Japanese government has approved an energy plan that backs the use of nuclear power. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s new plan envisages idle reactors to be switched back on after they are checked by the Japanese Nuclear Safety Commission. The government’s plan also promises to increase the country’s reliance on renewable energy.
Experts unhappy about untested fuel assemblies at Ukrainian nuclear power plants
The use of non-native fuel assembles without a cycle of preliminary serious tests cannot contribute to the safety of nuclear power plants. The opinion was voiced by experts during the online conference hosted by the BelTA website on 25 April to discuss the state and future of nuclear power engineering. The experts had been asked whether it was possible and safe to use American nuclear fuel instead of Russian fuel at Ukrainian nuclear power plants.
According to Andrei Kuzmin, Acting Director General of the United Energy and Nuclear Research Institute Sosny, the theory allows for using fuel assemblies made by different manufacturers.
“However, it is not that simple. The use of non-native fuel assemblies requires a large number of tests to adapt them to a specific reactor type. Without sufficient testing a fuel assembly cannot be guaranteed to withstand standard operation conditions and can be deformed. The latter has already happened to the fuel assemblies supplied by the American company Westinghouse for nuclear power plants with water-moderated reactors. You must understand that such things cannot contribute to safety,” explained Andrei Kuzmin.
“I would like to underline one more time that the task is not impossible. You just need to perform the sufficient number of required tests and improve the assemblies up to the required reliability standards. After that it will be possible to say that the required operation parameters of fuel assemblies have been secured,” said the expert.
He also added that Russian companies are now working to offer fuel assemblies that fit Western nuclear power plant designs, including American ones, to the market.
Professor Rafael Arutyunyan, Deputy Director for Science and Promising Research Coordination of the Nuclear Safety Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, remarked that the safe operation of nuclear power plants is not threatened by the desire to replace Russian fuel at Russian-design nuclear power plants in Ukraine, but the desire to bypass the accepted safety tests that the replacement of Russian fuel with Westinghouse fuel requires.
The previous attempts to install Westinghouse fuel into Russian-design nuclear power plants without a lengthy series of safety demonstration procedures have already resulted in serious problems in the operation of the active zone at a Czech nuclear power plant and a South Ukraine nuclear power plant, reminded the Russian scientist.
Any actions relevant for the operation of a nuclear power plant must follow transparent procedures to provide an independent safety evaluation in cooperation with nuclear power plant designers, said Rafael Arutyunyan. Otherwise, some people will no longer be responsible for safety, he concluded.
Objective reasons behind the need to develop nuclear power engineering
The development of nuclear power engineering will continue and there are fundamental reasons that will make it happen. The opinion was voiced by Professor Rafael Arutyunyan, Deputy Director for Science and Promising Research Coordination of the Nuclear Safety Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, during the online conference hosted by the BelTA website on 25 April to discuss nuclear energy prospects.
According to the source, organic heat transfer agents cannot be used to provide the mankind with energy in an environmentally friendly manner. “Even with the present number of people living on the Earth the use of heat-based power engineering for other countries to reach electricity consumption levels on par with developed nations would result in an absolutely unacceptable scale of ecological problems,” stressed the prominent Russian scientist.
In view of the risks relating to global warming due to the man-caused factor nuclear technology is the only one able to satisfy the basic demand of the mankind for electricity, Rafael Arutyunyan is convinced.
Construction workers started pouring concrete into the foundation of the facilities that will make up the first power-generating unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant at the Ostrovets site in November 2013. The Belarusian nuclear power plant will boast two power-generating units with the total generating capacity of up to 2,400MW (1,200MW each). The Russian design AES-2006 has been chosen to build the power plant. The design is fully compliant with international standards and IAEA recommendations. The Russian merged company OAO NIAEP – ZAO Atomstroyexport (ASE) is the general designer and the general contractor for building the power plant. The timeline for implementing the project is stipulated by the general contract. The first power-generating unit of the nuclear power plant is scheduled for launch in November 2018.
As of early April 2014 as much as 5% of the total work required to build the Belarusian nuclear power plant was completed.
Belarus keeps public informed about NPP project
Belarusian specialists are conducting a large-scale information campaign to keep people informed about the progress in the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, Chairman of the Environmental Initiative association Yuri Solovyov said during an online conference on the website of the BelTA News Agency on 25 April.
“Today Belarusian power engineering and nuclear energy experts provide as much information as possible about such a “protected” facility as a nuclear power plant,” he emphasized.
According to the environmentalist, when it comes to the NPP’s impact on environment and human health, construction process, and observation of safety rules, the information is more than exhaustive and accessible.
To illustrate his point, Yuri Solovyov named several most comprehensive and reliable sources of information. These are BelTA’s specialized resource http://atom.belta.by , the website of the Belarusian nuclear power plant http://www.dsae.by and the public information center at the Belarusian NPP in Ostrovets. The center collaborates with all NGOs, including environmental organizations.
“I hope this cooperation will continue,” Yuri Solovyov said.
France, Finland agree to join Belarus NPP monitoring
French and Finnish ecologists are ready to join the public environmental impact monitoring of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (NPP), Chairman of the Council of the Belarusian public association Ecological Initiative Yuri Solovyov told a press conference hosted by BelTA on 25 April.
“Our French and Finnish counterparts confirmed their readiness to take part in the program to monitor the construction of the nuclear power plant in Belarus,” he said.
In his words, the matter pertains to the study of the NPP impact on the flora and fauna of the Viliya river basin not far from the NPP construction site and the impact of the plant on other environmental components in the vicinity. It is expected that this stage of the monitoring program will be launched this year.
Belarusian ecologists are working on the budget necessary for the implementation of these programs and reimbursement of the costs of transfer, catering and staying for foreign colleagues who are expected to partake in the monitoring, Yuri Solovyov said.
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