RROG 26 TH ANNUAL MEETING 14 th to 17 th May 2014 Atominstitut, Vienna, Austria

History of the TRIGA Mark II Reactor Vienna 250 kW TRIGA Mark II reactor at the Atominstitut in Vienna critical since March 7 th 1962 Initially started up with 66 TRIGA fuel elements type 102 (Al-cladding, LEU) Following years elements of the type 104 (SST-cladding, LEU) were purchased In 1972 fuel elements of the type 110 (SST-cladding, 70% enriched) where acquired and placed in the core The last 8 fresh fuel elements were acquired from the Triga reactor in Heidelberg Core conversion in November 2012

Main technical Data of the TRIGA Mark-II Reactor Vienna (1) 1. Reactor Fuel-Moderator Material8.5 wt% uranium 89.9 wt% zirconium 1.6 wt% hydrogen Uranium enrichment19.8 % and 70% uranium-235 Active core volume49.5 cm diameter 38.1 cm high Core loading76 fuel elements, Amount of U-235 per fuel elementapprox. 38 grams Reflectorgraphite Reactor control2 motordriven control rods 1 pneumatic control rod material prompt negative temperature coefficient of the fuel

2. Steady state reactor operation mode Maximum thermal power 250 kW Maximum thermal neutron flux density1x10 13 cm -2 s -1 Maximum fuel temperature220°C Maximum primary water temperature35°C 3. Transient reactor operation mode peak, power thermal250 MW Integrated energy production12 MWs total duration of power pulse40 ms minimum reactor period10 ms maximum fuel temperature360°C Main technical Data of the TRIGA Mark-II Reactor Vienna (2)

Specification of Fuel Elements

Fuel Inventory as per

Fuel Element Situation as per Total uranium weight: g U-235 weight: g

Reactor was in 2013 for more than 200 days in operation Reactor was in 2013 for more than 200 days in operation 6 weeks practical courses for the Vienna University of Technology, 2 weeks for the University of Manchester and 3 weeks for the IAEA 6 weeks practical courses for the Vienna University of Technology, 2 weeks for the University of Manchester and 3 weeks for the IAEA Replacement of the old I&C system is financed by the Vienna University of Technology Replacement of the old I&C system is financed by the Vienna University of Technology From 3 different vendors; Skoda, Invap and GA, the Skoda company located in Pilsen was chosen as they offered the cheapest price fulfilling all the specifications mentioned in the call for tender. From 3 different vendors; Skoda, Invap and GA, the Skoda company located in Pilsen was chosen as they offered the cheapest price fulfilling all the specifications mentioned in the call for tender. The 1 st coordination meeting took place on the 21. February The replacement of the old I&C system and the installation of the new one is scheduled for the summer The 1 st coordination meeting took place on the 21. February The replacement of the old I&C system and the installation of the new one is scheduled for the summer Ongoing Activities (1)

One new deputy reactor manager and one new nuclear security officer was put in place in 2013 One new deputy reactor manager and one new nuclear security officer was put in place in 2013 Due to the European law a periodic safety review of the installation has to be performed till the end of 2014 Due to the European law a periodic safety review of the installation has to be performed till the end of 2014 A detailed inspection of the facility together with the governmental expert Dr. Gabriele Hampel took place, as an outcome of this inspection the main nuclear parts have to be replaced by new components A detailed inspection of the facility together with the governmental expert Dr. Gabriele Hampel took place, as an outcome of this inspection the main nuclear parts have to be replaced by new components – New primary circuit (pumps, pipes and heat exchanger) – New secondary circuit (pumps and pipes) – New purification pump – New ventilation system of the reactor hall (motors and fittings) – Several new auxiliary systems (electrical installation, lamps, etc..) Ongoing Activities (2)

January MWh February MWh March MWh April MWh May MWh June MWh July MWh August MWh September MWh October MWh November MWh December MWh Total257.53MWh Reactor in operation213days Operational History for 2013

Operation Performance 2008 to 2013

Performance Indicators for 2013 (1) B1: Number of unplanned reactor shutdowns initiated by reactor protection system or manual intervention B2: Number of unplanned reactor shutdowns initiated by experiments under irradiation

Performance Indicators for 2013 (2) D1a: Collective radiation dose to reactor operations staff D1b: Number of reactor operations staff D1c: D1a / D1b D2a: Collective radiation dose to all staff from reactor related work D2b: Total number of staff involved D2c: D2a / D2b

Performance Indicators for 2013 (3) * below the limit of detection E1: Rare gas released to atmosphere (Ar-41) E2: Tritium released to atmosphere E3: Tritiated water discharged E4: Iodine released to atmosphere

Staff Central facility “Reactor” Central facility “Reactor” – 1 reactor manager – 1 deputy reactor manager – 2 reactor operators Central facility “Nuclear Safety” Central facility “Nuclear Safety” – 1 nuclear security officer – 1 deputy security officer Central facility “Radiation Protection” Central facility “Radiation Protection” – 1 radiation protection officer – 1 deputy radiation protection officer – 1 technician

Training programme for personnel Reactor manager Reactor manager Deputy reactor manager Deputy reactor manager Nuclear security officer Nuclear security officer Radiation protection officer Radiation protection officer -Every 5 years minimum -Minimum 40 hours -Conferences Reactor operators Reactor operators Radiation protection technicians Radiation protection technicians - Every 5 years minimum -Minimum 8 hours -Conferences

Qualification of the operators Since 1962 the Atominstitut operates the TRIGA Mark II reactor with two operators. The last two came in the year 1975 and Since 1962 the Atominstitut operates the TRIGA Mark II reactor with two operators. The last two came in the year 1975 and One operator was trained in a special course at a technical High School for nuclear engineering dedicated for future operators for the Austrian NPP Zwentendorf. One operator was trained in a special course at a technical High School for nuclear engineering dedicated for future operators for the Austrian NPP Zwentendorf. As most of the lectures at that time were held at the Atominstitut he moved to our facility as a new operator was needed due to retirement. As most of the lectures at that time were held at the Atominstitut he moved to our facility as a new operator was needed due to retirement. The second operator was trained directly in our facility as the as the NPP was not put into operation and the High school was already closed. The second operator was trained directly in our facility as the as the NPP was not put into operation and the High school was already closed.

Retraining of the operators (1) The retraining of the operators is split into two parts. The retraining of the operators is split into two parts. One part is the participation in the different practical courses carried out at the Atominstitut. In all this courses the operators work closely together either with operators of other nuclear facilities or students from different universities. During this courses practical skills are trained again and different questions concerning reactor related themes are discussed. Safety issues of different nuclear facilities are discussed and the different practices are compared. As we are a small group every interesting topic is discussed together with the operators. One part is the participation in the different practical courses carried out at the Atominstitut. In all this courses the operators work closely together either with operators of other nuclear facilities or students from different universities. During this courses practical skills are trained again and different questions concerning reactor related themes are discussed. Safety issues of different nuclear facilities are discussed and the different practices are compared. As we are a small group every interesting topic is discussed together with the operators.

Retraining of the operators (2) In addition to this courses excursions to other nuclear facilities are organized like: In addition to this courses excursions to other nuclear facilities are organized like: –TRIGA Munich –RR Seibersdorf –NPP Bohunice –NPP Temelin –NPP Dukovany –NPP Mochovce –NPP Zwentendorf –TU Bratislava –TRIGA Lubjana –TRIGA Rom –TRIGA Pavia

Radiation Protection Staff 3 Persons in the radiation protection departement 3 Persons in the radiation protection departement Head of department and 2 radiation physicists Head of department and 2 radiation physicists Deputies in each research area Deputies in each research area Advanced training for the radiation protection staff Advanced training for the radiation protection staff - Every 5 years minimum -Minimum 8 hours -Conferences

Radiation Protection Courses Internal courses Internal courses Courses for staff of the institute Courses for staff of the institute Once a year Once a year Theoretical and practical topics Theoretical and practical topics External courses External courses In cooperation with companies and authorities In cooperation with companies and authorities For beginners and experts in radiation protection For beginners and experts in radiation protection Also theoretical and practical topics Also theoretical and practical topics Individual courses are planed and held by the radiation protection staff Individual courses are planed and held by the radiation protection staff Handling sealed sources Handling sealed sources Handling unsealed radiactive material Handling unsealed radiactive material Contamination – decontamination Contamination – decontamination Dose and activity calculations Dose and activity calculations

Safety Evaluation Document: Safety Analysis – analysing risks Document: Safety Analysis – analysing risks Initiating event Technical countermeasuresOrganisational proceduresRisk Explosion Ventilation, burnable liquids in fire resistant cabinets Automatic fire detection system, Emergency plan Low Fire Ventilation, burnable liquids in fire resistant cabinets, hand held fire extinguisher, fire detectors Automatic fire detection system, Emergency plan Low … ………

Emergency Plans Internal alarms: Internal alarms: Responsibility: Responsibility: –Reactor Manager –Radiation Protection Officer –Nuclear Safety Officer External alarms: External alarms: Responsibility: Responsibility: –National Authorities Alarm at the security office Internal alarmExternal alarm Handling the event Documentation and accident review

Present Situation in Vienna Replacement of the old I&C system is in progress Replacement of the old I&C system is in progress Replacement of primary circuit, secondary circuit, purification circuit and the reactor ventilation is in progress Replacement of primary circuit, secondary circuit, purification circuit and the reactor ventilation is in progress Estimation of the decommission costs together with Austrian research center in Seibersdorf Estimation of the decommission costs together with Austrian research center in Seibersdorf Increasing demand on practical courses Increasing demand on practical courses