News from ETSON and its members*

22 Jul 2021 | Bel V | UMAN – Towards a common understanding of uncertainty management in radioactive waste management newspicture UMAN – Towards a common understanding of uncertainty management in radioactive waste management

The main objectives of the Uncertainty Management multi-Actor Network (UMAN) are to provide an opportunity to different actors of EU Member States involved in radioactive waste management programmes to share their experiences and views on uncertainty management and to identify emerging needs that could be addressed in subsequent waves of the European Joint Programme on Radioactive Waste Management (EURAD).

22 Jul 2021 | Bel V | Surface specific clearance levels based on the Sudoqu methodology newspicture Surface specific clearance levels based on the Sudoqu methodology

For many years, even decades, there have been endless discussions on what values to use when performing clearance based on surface specific measurements. The definition of contamination in the Transport Regulation by IAEA and an old study by Fairbairn, gave rise to the numbers 0.04 Bq/cm2 for radiotoxic alpha-emitters and 0.4 Bq/cm2 for beta/gamma emitters. These values are widely used, but also often contested and challenged. Only a thorough, comprehensive study on the derivation of nuclide specific surface clearance levels can give a founded answer to the raised issues.

22 Jul 2021 | Bel V | Fire R&D Activities in Belgium newspicture Fire R&D Activities in Belgium

Historically, the first fire protection regulations to be implemented could be described as prescriptive (or deterministic), where the performance requirements of fire protection equipment are fixed. An example of such requirement is the need to segregate Structures, Systems & Components (SSCs) important for safety with fire-rated barriers ensuring standard resistance to fire propagation between compartments (e.g. for 3 hours according to U.S. NRC regulations). Such ratings are based on standardized testing procedures (ASTM, NFPA, EN...) performed under defined conditions (like the ISO 834 time-temperature curve).

22 Jul 2021 | ETSON | Improving Modeling Accuracy and Interpretation Skills Within ETSON EP&R Community newspicture Improving Modeling Accuracy and Interpretation Skills Within ETSON EP&R Community

The consequences of the radiological and nuclear emergencies may vary from an overexposure of a single person to a transboundary catastrophe with multiple victims and massive radiation contamination. In light of the effort and resources potentially involved in the mitigation, assessment of the radiological consequences during an emergency is a vital stage in the planning and response.

22 Jun 2021 | VTT | VTT is developing reactor technology for district heating newspicture VTT is developing reactor technology for district heating

In February 2020, a project was launched at VTT to develop a nuclear district heating plant for the Finnish market. The developed technology is called the Low-Temperature District Heating and Desalination Rector, or LDR.

22 Jun 2021 | VTT | Finnish Nuclear Research Programme Status (KYT2022 and SAFIR2022) newspicture Finnish Nuclear Research Programme Status (KYT2022 and SAFIR2022)

Finland has two ongoing national research programmes in the nuclear sector: KYT2022 and SAFIR2022. The two research programmes held a joint Interim Seminar in March.

22 Jun 2021 | VTT | Unreliability of reactor water level measurement during a severe accident newspicture Unreliability of reactor water level measurement during a severe accident

The reactor water level measurement became unreliable during the Fukushima accident. VTT has analyzed the behavior of the measurement system at unit 2.

22 Jun 2021 | RATEN ICN | Stepping forward for ALFRED infrastructure newspicture Stepping forward for ALFRED infrastructure

ALFRED infrastructure was designed as a Research Infrastructure of global relevance on the HLM and LFR technology.

22 Jun 2021 | RATEN ICN | Evaluation of Advanced Nuclear Fuel Elements Behaviour Proposed for Use in CANDU Nuclear Reactor newspicture Evaluation of Advanced Nuclear Fuel Elements Behaviour Proposed for Use in CANDU Nuclear Reactor

Different concepts for nuclear heavy water reactors fuel bundles were compared and analysed from the thermo-mechanical point of view by using specific computer codes.

22 Jun 2021 | EK CER | EK-CER is a Collaborating Centre of the IAEA in Nuclear Forensics newspicture EK-CER is a Collaborating Centre of the IAEA in Nuclear Forensics

Centre for Energy Research (EK) in Budapest, Hungary was designated as the first Collaborating Centre in Nuclear Forensics of the IAEA in 2016 which was prolonged this year till 2025. The Centre provides laboratory, research and training capacity, expertise, and mentoring opportunities together with scientific collaborations in the field of nuclear security.

17 May 2021 | JSI | THELMA laboratory at the JSI newspicture THELMA laboratory at the JSI

Accurate prediction of the convective single- and two-phase heat transfer is very important in process and power engineering for safety, reliability, and efficiency. In this aspect, boiling is particularly interesting and complex phenomena, which may significantly enhance the heat transfer from the heated surface to the coolant flow. The detailed understanding of these phenomena is of great importance and, as such, is put under investigation in the THELMA laboratory (Thermal-Hydraulics Experimental Laboratory for Multiphase Applications) at the Reactor Engineering Division at Jožef Stefan Institute (Slovenia).

17 May 2021 | IRSN | Transparency: IRSN takes stock of 10 years of openness to society newspicture Transparency: IRSN takes stock of 10 years of openness to society

Ten years after signing its charter on openness to society, IRSN has published a report that summarize its action in this specific domain, between scientific experts and citizens.

 

 

17 May 2021 | GRS | Predicting infection routes: GRS team calculates the spread of SARS-CoV-2 aerosols in indoor environments newspicture Predicting infection routes: GRS team calculates the spread of SARS-CoV-2 aerosols in indoor environments

Scientists at GRS use a simulation software to calculate the spread of SARS-CoV-2 aerosols. The program was designed to analyse incidents and accidents in containments of nuclear power plants, but has been adapted and validated for corona aerosols.

17 May 2021 | JSI | European Nuclear Experimental Educational Platform - ENEEP newspicture European Nuclear Experimental Educational Platform - ENEEP

The ENEEP is an open platform for any European university or European research institute actively involved in education, training, and competence building in the nuclear field.

17 May 2021 | IRSN | Ability for service up to 50 years for EDF's 900 MWe reactor vessels: IRSN's conclusions newspicture Ability for service up to 50 years for EDF's 900 MWe reactor vessels: IRSN's conclusions

The ageing and the prolongation live duration of old nuclear power plants is an essential topic in term of safety challenges.

 

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