International Conference on Research Reactors: Addressing Challenges and Opportunities to Ensure Effectiveness and Sustainability

Transcription

1 IAEA-CN-277; EVT Internatinal Cnference n Research Reactrs: Addressing Challenges and Opprtunities t Ensure Effectiveness and Sustainability Buens Aires, Argentina Nvember 2019 Organized by the Internatinal Atmic Energy Agency (IAEA) Hsted by the Gvernment f Argentina thrugh the Natinal Atmic Energy Cmmissin (CNEA) Annuncement and Call fr Papers A. Backgrund The Internatinal Atmic Energy Agency (IAEA) has prmted and fstered the exchange f scientific and technical infrmatin n research reactrs fr many years. An imprtant mechanism fr this exchange has been the IAEA s rganizatin f peridic meetings, seminars, sympsia and cnferences. Mst recently, the IAEA has rganized majr internatinal cnferences n tpics f interest t the research reactr cmmunity every fur years. The last such event was the Internatinal

2 Page 2 Cnference n Research Reactrs: Safe Management and Effective Utilizatin held in Vienna in Nvember Since the 1950s, hundreds f research reactrs arund the wrld have served sciety and cntinued t be a crnerstne f the develpment f nuclear science and technlgy. In additin t the currently perating facilities, a number f new research reactr prgrammes are being planned and develped. Feedback frm the IAEA s activities in this area demnstrates the imprtance f ensuring the effectiveness and sustainability f research reactrs in view f the challenges that cntinue t be faced by the research reactr cmmunity. These challenges are mainly related t the need t ensure regulatry effectiveness, manage the ageing f the facilities and staff, and enhance utilizatin prgrammes and strategic planning. Other challenges include effective leadership and management, spent fuel management, and decmmissining as well as the need t establish sustainable natinal nuclear infrastructure fr new research reactr prgrammes. In the abve-mentined cntext, the IAEA is rganizing this new internatinal cnference n research reactrs, which will be hsted by the Gvernment f Argentina in cperatin with the cuntry s Natinal Atmic Energy Cmmissin (CNEA). Like earlier IAEA cnferences n research reactrs, the frthcming ne will play a vital rle in natinal and internatinal effrts t ensure maximizatin f the benefits that such facilities bring t sciety, with a primary fcus n their effectiveness and sustainability. B. Objectives The purpse f this cnference is t fster the exchange f infrmatin n perating and planned research reactrs, and t prvide a frum in which reactr peratrs, managers, users, regulatrs, designers and suppliers can share experiences and address challenges and pprtunities, with a view t ensuring effectiveness and sustainability in all relevant areas, including safety, security, peratin, utilizatin, infrastructure, and management. C. Frmat and Tpics A preliminary prgramme will be made available n the cnference web page (see Sectin M) well in advance f the cnference. The final prgramme and the Bk f Extended Synpsis will be available upn registratin at the cnference. The cnference will cnsist f an pening plenary sessin, seven tpical sessins, and a clsing plenary sessin. In additin, a frum n IAEA activities and services fr enhancing research reactr safety, security, and peratin and maintenance as well as a frum n the utilizatin f high-pwer research reactrs in materials testing are scheduled as cnference side events. In rder t meet its bjectives, the cnference will feature: Presentatins by the invited keynte speakers; Presentatins t highlight specific areas within each tpical sessin and stimulate discussin amng cnference participants; and

3 Page 3 Pster presentatins that present state-f-the-art infrmatin and knwledge related t each f the tpical areas. While mst papers will fcus n ne f the principal tpical areas belw, authrs are encuraged t cnsider integratin with the ther areas as applicable. Sessin 1: Utilizatin and Applicatins f Research Reactrs Challenges and pprtunities in: Prductin f medical and industrial radiistpes Neutrn beam research Neutrn imaging Irradiatin services and prducts Neutrn activatin analysis Materials and fuel testing Other applicatins, including new develpments Synergies and cmplementarities between utilizatin prgrammes f small and large research reactrs Utilizatin prgrammes fr subcritical assemblies Use f research reactrs fr educatin and training Strategies fr effective and sustainable utilizatin, including reginal and internatinal cperatin Use f research reactrs fr the develpment f nuclear science and technlgy, including supprt fr nuclear pwer Sessin 2: Research Reactr Operatin and Maintenance Effective peratin and maintenance prgrammes, including lessns learned and gd practices Ageing management prgrammes, including methds and techniques fr in-service inspectins Experience with majr repair, refurbishment, and upgrade prjects Prgrammes fr lng term peratin Experience and plans fr cre cnversin prjects Management f the transitin between peratin and decmmissining Member States experiences with Operatin and Maintenance Assessment fr Research Reactrs (OMARR) missins

4 Page 4 Sessin 3: New Research Reactr Prgrammes Strategy fr accessing research reactr facilities, including new builds Develpment f sustainable natinal nuclear infrastructure fr new research reactr prgrammes Effective applicatin f the IAEA s Milestnes apprach fr new research reactr prgrammes. Relevant tpics include: Assessment f needs, develpment f user cmmunity, stakehlder invlvement and strategic planning Assessment f the natinal nuclear infrastructure and experiences with the IAEA s Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review fr Research Reactrs (INIR-RR) missins Safety and security cnsideratins in different phases f a research reactr prject Feasibility studies fr new research reactr prgrammes Develpment f the functinal and technical requirements fr new research reactrs Status reprts n new research reactr prgrammes in prgress, experience and lessns learned Sessin 4: Safety f Research Reactrs Effective applicatin f the IAEA Cde f Cnduct n the Safety f Research Reactrs Experiences with applicatin f the IAEA safety standards that are relevant t subcritical assemblies Regulatry supervisin f research reactrs, including licensing and inspectin prgrammes Leadership and management fr safety Interactin f human, technlgical, and rganizatinal factrs Training and qualificatin prgrammes Implemented r planned upgrades identified thrugh safety reassessments based n the lessns learned frm the Fukushima-Daiichi accident Safety and licensing dcumentatin Safety analysis appraches, methds, and cmputatinal tls Ageing management and safety assessment fr lng term peratin Safety in utilizatin and mdificatins, including licensing f digital instrumentatin and cntrl systems Operatinal radiatin prtectin and waste management Operating experience feedback Peridic safety reviews Member States experiences with Integrated Safety Assessment f Research Reactrs (INSARR) missins

5 Page 5 Sessin 5: Security f Research Reactrs Effective use f the Integrated Nuclear Security Supprt Plan (INSSP) prcess Experiences with applicatin f the IAEA s Nuclear Security Recmmendatins n Radiactive Material and Assciated Facilities (IAEA Nuclear Security Series N. 14): Develpment f regulatry basis Regulatry versight Prcesses fr licensing, inspectins and enfrcement f the nuclear security regime Risk based apprach, including threat assessment, design basis threat, risk management, graded apprach and defence in depth Implementing and sustaining research reactr facility security systems: Experiences with planning, implementing and sustaining physical prtectin systems Challenges f addressing emerging threats Develping and maintaining security plans, including cmputer security Respnse and mitigatin strategies Experiences with Integrated Physical Prtectin Advisry Service (IPPAS) missins Sessin 6: Research Reactr Fuel Management and Decmmissining Fuel management experience, related issues and lessns learned in: Qualificatin f new fuels fr research reactrs Fuel perfrmance Fuel handling, including safety, security and peratinal perfrmance f the facilities Strategies fr spent fuel management, including fuel take-back prgrammes Decmmissining planning, including cnsideratins during a facility s lifetime Experiences with nging and recently cmpleted decmmissining prjects Sessin 7: Cmmn Management Cnsideratins Effective integrated management system, including quality assurance prgrammes Safety and security culture Cnduct f self-assessments and fllw-up actins Develpment and use f perfrmance indicatrs Interface between nuclear safety and security

6 Page 6 Use f a graded apprach in applicatin f cmmn management cnsideratins, including safety requirements and security recmmendatins Human resurces develpment, including cmpetence management, training, and successin planning Operating and experimental data management and preservatin Cnfiguratin management Management f facilities in extended shutdwn (safety, security, surveillance and maintenance) Clsing Sessin The clsing sessin will include a panel discussin which will summarize the principal bservatins made during the cnference and address imprtant issues raised by the audience. During this sessin, the Rapprteur f the cnference and the sessin chairs will present summaries and highlights f the sessin discussins as well as the cnclusins and recmmendatins f the cnference. D. Cntributed Papers and Interactive Presentatins Cncise papers n issues falling within the tpics utlined in Sectin C abve may be submitted as cntributins t the cnference. All papers, apart frm invited papers, must present riginal wrk and shuld nt have been published elsewhere. (a) Submissin f extended synpses Anyne wishing t present a paper at the cnference is requested t submit first an extended synpsis between 600 and 800 wrds (nt exceeding tw pages, including figures, tables and references) in electrnic frmat. The extended synpsis shuld give enugh infrmatin n the cntents f the prpsed paper t enable the Prgramme Cmmittee t evaluate it. Authrs shuld state t which f the tpics utlined in Sectin C their cntributin relates. Instructins n hw t uplad the extended synpses t the cnference s web brwser-based file submissin system (IAEA-INDICO) will be available n the cnference web page (see Sectin M belw) as f 1 February The extended synpses must be submitted thrugh this system by 28 April N ther frm f submissin will be accepted. The extended synpsis shuld als be submitted, tgether with a cmpleted Participatin Frm (Frm A) and Frm fr Submissin f a Paper (Frm B), t the cmpetent fficial authrity (see Sectin E) fr subsequent electrnic transmissin t the IAEA (Official.Mail@iaea.rg), t be received by the IAEA by 28 April In additin, the abstracts must be sent electrnically t: RR-Cnference-2019.Cntact-Pint@iaea.rg. Intrductry and general matters shuld nt be included. (b) Acceptance f papers fr ral r pster presentatin The extended synpsis will be cnsidered nly if the Participatin Frm (Frm A) and Frm fr Submissin f a Paper (Frm B) have been received by the abve-mentined deadline and thrugh the established fficial channels.

7 Page 7 A limited number f extended synpses will be selected fr submissin f a full paper and, cnsequently, fr either ral r pster presentatin, which shuld be delivered during the sessins f the cnference. Authrs will be ntified by 30 June 2019 as t whether their extended synpses have been accepted and, if s, whether the full papers shuld be delivered as ral r pster presentatins. Authrs will be asked t prvide their full-length papers (a maximum f eight pages) by 30 September Guidelines and a template fr the preparatin and submissin f full papers and psters will be made available n the cnference web page. The full paper must be submitted thrugh IAEA-INDCO system in the same way as the extended synpses. The Secretariat reserves the right t exclude papers that d nt cmply with its quality standards r that d nt apply t ne f the tpics utlined in Sectin C abve. (c) Prceedings The prceedings f the cnference will be published by the IAEA and made available n the IAEA website sn after the cnference. The prceedings will include the cnference cnclusins and recmmendatins, sessin summaries, and the full-papers. E. Participatin and Registratin The cnference is directed at a brad range f experts in the area f research reactrs, and aims t bring tgether the wrld s senir representatives frm regulatry bdies, perating rganizatins, users, designers, suppliers, research rganizatins and ther relevant stakehlders. All persns wishing t participate in the cnference are requested t send a cmpleted Participatin Frm (Frm A) and the Grant Applicatin Frm (Frm C) t their cmpetent natinal authrity (e.g. Ministry f Freign Affairs r Natinal Atmic Energy Authrity), r t ne f the rganizatins invited t participate, fr subsequent electrnic transmissin t the IAEA (Official.Mail@iaea.rg). A participant will be accepted nly if the Participatin Frm is transmitted thrugh the cmpetent natinal authrity f a Member State f the IAEA r by an rganizatin invited t participate. Participants whse fficial designatins have been received by the IAEA will receive frm the IAEA further infrmatin apprximately three mnths befre the pening f the cnference. This infrmatin will als be psted n the cnference web page (see Sectin M). F. Expenditures and Grants Participants will nt be charged any registratin fee. The IAEA is generally nt in a psitin t bear the travel and ther csts f designated participants in the cnference. The IAEA has, hwever, limited funds at its dispsal t help cver the cst f attendance f selected specialists frm Member States eligible t receive technical assistance under the IAEA s technical cperatin prgramme. Such assistance may be ffered upn specific request t

8 Page 8 nrmally ne participant per cuntry prvided that, in the IAEA s view, the participant n whse behalf assistance is requested will make an imprtant cntributin t the cnference. If gvernments wish t apply fr a grant n behalf f ne f their specialists, they shuld address specific requests t the IAEA t this effect. Gvernments shuld ensure that applicatins fr grants are: 1. Submitted by 28 April 2019; 2. Accmpanied by a cmpleted and signed Grant Applicatin Frm (Frm C); 3. Accmpanied by a cmpleted Participatin Frm (Frm A). Applicatins that d nt cmply with the abve cnditins cannt be cnsidered. Apprved grants will be issued in the frm f a lump sum payment that usually cvers nly part f the cst f attendance. G. Wrking Language The wrking language f the cnference will be English. All cmmunicatins and papers must be sent t the IAEA in English. H. Cnference Venue and Accmmdatin Detailed infrmatin n accmmdatin and ther relevant matters will be sent directly t all designated participants apprximately three mnths befre the pening f the cnference. This infrmatin will als be made available n the cnference web page (see Sectin M belw) as sn as pssible. I. Exhibitin A limited amunt f space will be available fr cmmercial vendrs displays/exhibits during the cnference. Further infrmatin will be psted in due curse n the cnference web page (see Sectin M). J. Visas Designated participants wh require a visa t enter Argentina shuld submit the necessary applicatin t the nearest diplmatic r cnsular representative f Argentina at least fur weeks befre they travel t Argentina.

9 Page 9 K. Key Deadlines Submissin f Frm fr Submissin f a Paper (Frm B) and synpses: 28 April 2019 Submissin f Grant Applicatin Frm (Frm C): 28 April 2019 Ntificatin f acceptance f synpses: 30 June 2019 Submissin f accepted full paper (8 pages max.): 30 September 2019 L. Cnference Secretariat General cntact details f the Cnference Secretariat: Internatinal Atmic Energy Agency Vienna Internatinal Centre PO Bx VIENNA AUSTRIA Tel.: Fax: Official.Mail@iaea.rg Scientific Secretaries f the cnference: Mr Amgad Shkr (Lead Scientific Secretary) Sectin Head Research Reactr Safety Sectin Divisin f Nuclear Installatin Safety Department f Nuclear Safety and Security Tel.: Fax: RR-Cnference-2019.Cntact-Pint@iaea.rg Mr Andrea Bri di Tiglile Sectin Head Research Reactr Sectin Divisin f Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technlgy Department f Nuclear Energy Tel.: Fax: RR-Cnference-2019.Cntact-Pint@iaea.rg Mr Nun Pessa Barradas Research Reactr Specialist

10 Page 10 Physics Sectin Divisin f Physical and Chemical Sciences Department f Nuclear Science and Applicatins Tel.: Fax: RR-Cnference-2019.Cntact-Pint@iaea.rg Administratin and rganizatin: Ms Martina Neuhld Cnference Services Sectin Divisin f Cnference and Dcument Services Department f Management IAEA-CN-277; EVT Tel.: M.Neuhld@iaea.rg Subsequent crrespndence n scientific matters shuld be sent t the Scientific Secretaries f the cnference and crrespndence n administrative matters t the IAEA Cnference Services Sectin. M. Cnference Web Page Please visit the IAEA cnference web page regularly fr new infrmatin regarding this cnference: