Technical Meeting on Achieving Zero Fuel Failure Rates: Challenges and Perspectives

Transcription

1 Technical Meeting on Achieving Zero Fuel Failure Rates: Challenges and Perspectives Hosted by the Government of Bulgaria through the Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy Varna, Bulgaria 1 2 October 2015 Ref. No.: 651-T1-TM Announcement and Call for Papers A. Background The more technologies are sophisticated, the more quality and reliability aspects are important for guaranteeing safety and required operational characteristics of a product. This is particularly true for the nuclear power industry, which is potentially dangerous for human beings and the environment, being based on the use of radioactive materials and very concentrated energy density. A key barrier for containing harmful fission products is fuel cladding, and it is of paramount importance that this barrier is robust and does not leak. Nuclear fuel plays an essential role in ensuring not only safety, but also competitiveness and public acceptance of nuclear power. So fuel failures affect all important aspects of nuclear power plant (NPP) operation, and all nuclear fuel designers, vendors and utilities are concerned. It is particularly important in the light of the Fukushima Daiichi accident, and due to economically-driven growing

2 Page 2 demands on fuel duties, including transient operation regimes, higher discharge burnups and longer fuel cycles. These new challenges directly impact fuel performance, and new issues are emerging. The whole story of nuclear power development reflects this evolving compromise between technoeconomic incentives and safety requirements. Since 1987, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has systematically carried out studies on statistics and root causes of fuel failures that reflect the balance between uprating power outputs and the move towards zero failure rates, which requires complex technical and organization measures including deep analysis of feedback at all stages of the fuel quality assurance circle (R&D, design, fabrication, and operation) (Review of Fuel Failures in Water Cooled Reactors (IAEA Nuclear Energy Series No. NF-T-2.1, Vienna, 2010). That is why the IAEA Technical Working Group on Fuel Performance and Technology (TWG-FPT) recommended in 2014 to organize a Technical Meeting on Achieving Zero Fuel Failure Rates: Challenges and Perspectives, and to hold it in 2015 in Bulgaria. B. Objectives The purpose of this meeting is to review national and international programmes aimed at the enhancement of nuclear fuel robustness, and to facilitate exchange of experience and knowledge relevant to the minimization of fuel failure rates among: Research and development institutions and design institutions; Utilities; Regulatory bodies; Governmental agencies; and International organizations. The findings and recommendations of the meeting will contribute to the IAEA expert review of fuel failures in water cooled reactors during the period , which is planned to be carried out in C. Topics to be Considered The meeting will cover fuel reliability issues and methods of assuring failure-free operation of both light and heavy-water cooled fuels, including the following topics: Fuel failure statistics Analysis of manufacturing root causes of fuel failures Fuel failure evolution in relation to design improvements Organizational methods of assuring failure-free operation Mitigation of fuel failure consequences

3 Page 3 National and international programmes aiming at minimization of fuel failure rates D. Organization Upon the TWG-FPT s recommendation, this meeting will be held from 1 to 2 October 2015 in conjunction with the 11th International Conference on WWER Fuel Performance, Modelling and Experimental Support (26 30 September 2015, Varna, Bulgaria), which traditionally includes consideration and review of different types of water-cooled fuels. Meeting Chairman: Mr Dimitar Tonev Director Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy (INRNE) Bulgarian Academy of Sciences 72, Tzarigradsko Chaussee Blvd SOFIA BULGARIA Meeting Coordinator: Ms Stefka Boneva Associate Professor Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy (INRNE) Bulgarian Academy of Sciences 72, Tzarigradsko Chaussee Blvd SOFIA BULGARIA Tel.: Fax: boneva@inrne.bas.bg Scientific Secretary: Mr Uddharan Basak Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Materials Section Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology Department of Nuclear Energy International Atomic Energy Agency Vienna International Centre PO Box VIENNA AUSTRIA Tel.: Fax: U.Basak@iaea.org

4 Page 4 E. Deadline for Papers and Participation in the Meeting The meeting may be attended only upon official nomination, and papers are required from all international participants. Applicants should complete the attached Forms A and B and send them, together with an abstract of approximately 300 words to the appropriate national authority (Ministry of Foreign Affairs or National Atomic Energy Authority) for subsequent transmission to the IAEA, not later than 29 May 2015, with copies to the IAEA Scientific Secretary, Mr Uddharan Basak, and to the Meeting Coordinator, Ms Stefka Boneva. The abstracts should summarize the content and principal conclusions of the papers. Officially nominated authors, whose abstracts have been selected, will be notified directly about acceptance of their applications, and a preliminary programme will be issued by 15 July On arrival at the meeting, the authors are requested to bring in electronic form (on a CD or a memory stick) their full papers in Microsoft Word format and their presentations in PowerPoint or PDF format. They should be formatted by authors before submission according to the rules, available on the meeting website (under preparation), and will be afterwards published in the same volume as the Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on WWER Fuel Performance, Modelling and Experimental Support. F. Venue and Accommodation The meeting will be held in Varna, Bulgaria. For details about the venue, accommodation, travel arrangements and other local information, participants are requested to contact the Meeting Coordinator, Ms Stefka Boneva. G. Visas Nominated participants who require a visa to enter Bulgaria should submit necessary application forms in due time to the nearest diplomatic or consular representative of Bulgaria. H. Expenditures In accordance with the established rules, Governments or other national authorities are expected to bear the travel and other costs of participants in the meeting. Limited funds are, however, available to help cover the cost of participants from Member States eligible to receive technical assistance under the IAEA s technical cooperation programme. Such assistance can be offered, upon specific request, to one participant per country provided that, in the IAEA s view, this participant will make an important contribution to the meeting. The application for financial support should be made at the time of nomination of the participant.

5 Page 5 It should be noted that compensation is not payable by the IAEA for any damage to or loss of personal property. The IAEA also does not provide health insurance coverage for participants in meetings, workshops or training courses or for consultants. Arrangements for private insurance coverage on an individual basis should therefore be made. The IAEA will, however, provide insurance coverage for accidents and illnesses that clearly result from any work performed for the IAEA. I. Working Language The working language of the meeting will be English. All communications, abstracts, and papers must be sent in English.

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7 Form A 651-T1-TM International Atomic Energy Agency Participation Form Technical Meeting on Achieving Zero Fuel Failure Rates: Challenges and Perspectives Varna, Bulgaria 1 2 October 2015 To be completed by the participant and sent to the competent official authority (e.g. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Mission to the IAEA, or National Atomic Energy Authority) of his/her country for subsequent transmission to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna International Centre, PO Box 100, 1400 Vienna, Austria, either electronically by to: Official.Mail@iaea.org or by fax to: (no hard copies needed). Participants who are members of an invited organization can submit this form to their organization for subsequent transmission to the IAEA. Deadline for receipt by IAEA through official channels: 29 May 2015 Family name: Given name(s): Mr/Ms Institution: Full address: For urgent communications please indicate: Tel.: Fax: Nationality: Designating Government or organization: Mailing address (if different from address indicated above): Title of paper to be presented:

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9 Form B 651-T1-TM International Atomic Energy Agency Form for Submission of a Paper Technical Meeting on Achieving Zero Fuel Failure Rates: Challenges and Perspectives Varna, Bulgaria 1 2 October 2015 To be completed by the participant and sent to the competent official authority (e.g. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Mission to the IAEA, or National Atomic Energy Authority) of his/her country for subsequent transmission to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna International Centre, PO Box 100, 1400 Vienna, Austria, either electronically by to: Official.Mail@iaea.org or by fax to: (no hard copies needed). Participants who are members of an invited organization can submit this form to their organization for subsequent transmission to the IAEA. Deadline for receipt by IAEA through official channels: 29 May 2015 Title of the paper: Family name(s) and initial(s) of author(s) 1. Scientific establishment(s) in which the work has been carried out City/Country Family name of author who will present the paper Mailing address: Initial(s): Mr/Ms For urgent communications please indicate Tel.: Fax: I hereby agree to assign to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): the copyright or the non-exclusive, royalty-free licence (this option is only for those authors whose parent institution does not allow them to transfer the copyright for work carried out in that institution) to publish the above-mentioned paper, and certify that no other rights have been granted which could conflict with the right hereby given to the IAEA. Date: Signature of main author:

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11 Form C 651-T1-TM International Atomic Energy Agency Grant Application Form Technical Meeting on Achieving Zero Fuel Failure Rates: Challenges and Perspectives Varna, Bulgaria 1 2 October 2015 To be completed by the applicant and sent to the competent official authority (e.g. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Mission to the IAEA, or National Atomic Energy Authority) of his/her country for subsequent transmission to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna International Centre, PO Box 100, 1400 Vienna, Austria, either electronically by to: Official.Mail@iaea.org or by fax to: (no hard copies needed). Deadline for receipt by IAEA through official channels: 29 May 2015 Family name: Given name(s): Mr/Ms: Mailing address: Tel.: Fax: Date of birth (yy/mm/dd): Nationality: 1. Education (post-secondary): Name and place of institution Field of study Diploma or Degree Years attended from to 2. Recent employment record (Starting with your present post): Name and place of employer/ organization Title of your position Type of work Years worked from to 3. Description of work performed over the last three years: 4. Institute s/member State s programme in field of meeting: Date: Date: Signature of applicant: Name, signature and stamp of responsible Government official: