PSR at Training Reactor VR-1 Marek Sedlbauer Czech Technical University in Prague IAEA Workshop on Application of the Code of Conduct on the Safety of Research Reactors, November 2, 2015

2 Outline  Reactor VR-1  Safety classified SSCs  Review and operational safety  Documentation  Safety committee  Emergency Preparedness  Review reports M. Sedlbauer – PSR at Training Reactor VR-1

3333 Reactor VR-1 – parameters  Power 5 kW th  Fueltube fuel IRT-4M  Vessel Diameter/Height mm/ mm  Temperature 20°C  Reactor Shielding water + heavy concrete  Core Cooling natural convection  Pressure atmospheric  Reactivity control Cd control rods  Neutron Flux cm -2.s -1  Start-up Neutron Source Am-Be Work inside the reactor vessel M. Sedlbauer – PSR at Training Reactor VR-1

4444 Reactor VR-1  1990: commissioning - first criticality 03/12/1990  2015: 25 years of safety and successful operation  M. Sedlbauer – PSR at Training Reactor VR-1

5 Applied to different fields of Reactor life with emphasis on technologies and activities important to the nuclear safety  Systems, Structures and Components (SSCs) – safety classified equipment – the highest attention, RMS, exp. devices, NMAC system, etc. including their ageing  Procedures, documents  Safety analysis  Emergency Preparedness  Review reports  Etc. Application PSR 555 M. Sedlbauer – PSR at Training Reactor VR-1

6 Safety classified SSCs 666 M. Sedlbauer – PSR at Training Reactor VR-1 The most important SSCs to safety:  Control rods  Vessels and corridor  Fuel elements (cladding)  Control system Safety classified SSCs are reviewed with the highest possible attention because of their direct impact on safety Also other SSCs are reviewed regularly – RMS, water management system, physical protection system, experimental devices, ….

7 Control rods 777 M. Sedlbauer – PSR at Training Reactor VR-1 7 control rods – type UR-70 with step engine and Cd absorber  Operational test – after each disconnection of rod, special test (velocity of rod up/down and drop time), record in protocol and check log  Regular checks o every year: all rods disassembling by reactor staff, check of rust products, base functions of mechanisms and absorber o every 5 years: NDT check of all absorbers by external service company, checks of ageing and tests on special stand, records in protocol and check log  Ad hoc check - in case of rod defects is sent external service company

8 Control rods checks 888 M. Sedlbauer – PSR at Training Reactor VR-1

999 Fuel elements 9 IRT-4M fuel elements enriched to 19,7% with Al cladding (thickness up to 0,45 mm)  Regular checks - every year during summer shutdown, checks of all fuel elements visually using light, eyeglass and digital camera, inspection of geometry by special stand, records in check log and photos all sides of fuel elements  Ad hoc – in 2014 realized inspection of the most used fuel elements by profilometer to check cladding M. Sedlbauer – PSR at Training Reactor VR-1

10 Profilometer inspection 10 M. Sedlbauer – PSR at Training Reactor VR-1

11 Internal Review and Operational Safety 11 Regular meeting of operational staff  monthly meeting initiated by reactor manager  evaluation all activities during last operation period (experience, attention, requirements, etc.)  review of all realised checks in last operation period  scheduling of staff training activities (NSaf, NSec, RP, EP)  scheduling of reactor operation  preparation for regular report to SONS (every 3 months)  evaluation of disagreements from internal Bugzilla information system  recommendation for future refurbishment or innovation M. Sedlbauer – PSR at Training Reactor VR-1

12 Documents at the Reactor VR-1 are divided into groups according importance to safety - graded approach  Emphasis on controlled documents – emergency plan, OLCs, QA program, Monitoring program, SAR, etc.  Controlled document processing – processing request, authorization for document processing and defining the scope of the document, check during the processing, approval process  Effort to do all needed changes in documents as soon as possible  Obligatory review of all controlled documents every year by responsible person for appropriate document 12 Documentation 12 M. Sedlbauer – PSR at Training Reactor VR-1

13 The aim of the committee is to provide sufficient information for the management of the operator of the reactor  Established this year (2015)  8 members  Committee meetings - regular (annual) or extraordinary (ad hoc)  Independent assessment of the safety of the reactor operation  Good functioning of the Committee may affect safety culture  Review of operation, activities important to safety, plans of innovation, emergency planning, developments, etc.  Evaluation and recommendation report 13 Safety committee 13 M. Sedlbauer – PSR at Training Reactor VR-1

14 Safety committee 14 M. Sedlbauer – PSR at Training Reactor VR-1 Rector - Statutory representative CHAIRMAN Dean DEPUTY CHAIRMAN operational and organizational reactor staff Head of department Reactor manager Radiation protection officer Expert in NS Expert in OS Expert in RP 3 independent members

 Internal emergency plan - main controlled document to ensure emergency preparedness  Emergency exercise – annual exercise in the presence of all staff, inspection of state authority randomly  Immediate evaluation after emergency exercise in the presence of all staff  Results of evaluation implemented the emergency plan review in case of serious findings  Review of emergency exercise reported to SONS within 14 days  Obligatory review of Internal emergency plan every year by responsible person Emergency Preparedness 15M. Sedlbauer – PSR at Training Reactor VR-1

Quarterly report  Number of hours in operation  Characteristic of operation for the three-month period – types of operation, changes, innovations, inspections, maintenance, etc.  Overview of events important to safety  Review of safe operation and compliance with OLCs Annual report  Number of hours in operation per year  Characteristic of operation per year  Review of safe operation, RP, EP and NSec  Plans for the future (document reviews, innovations, etc.) Ad hoc report Review reports on the State Office 16M. Sedlbauer – PSR at Training Reactor VR-1

17 Thank you for attention M. Sedlbauer – PSR at Training Reactor VR-1