Nuclear Power and Energy Security

289 Pages·2010·42.22 MB·English

by  Omoto Akira (auth.)

Nuclear Power and Energy Security
NATO Science for Peace and Security Series
This Series presents the results of scientific meetings supported under the NATO
Programme: Science for Peace and Security (SPS).
The NATO SPS Programme supports meetings in the following Key Priority areas: (1)
Defence Against Terrorism; (2) Countering other Threats to Security and (3)NATO, Partner
and Mediterranean Dialogue Country Priorities. The types of meeting supported are
generally "Advanced Study Institutes" and "Advanced Research Workshops". The NATO
SPS Series collects together the results of these meetings.The meetings are co-
organized by scientists from NATO countries and scientists from NATO's "Partner" or
"Mediterranean Dialogue" countries.The observations and recommendations made at
the meetings, as well as the contents of the volumes in the Series, reflect those of parti-
cipants and contributors only;they should not necessarily be regarded as reflecting NATO
views or policy.
Advanced Study Institutes (ASI) are high-level tutorial courses intended to convey the
latest developments in a subject to an advanced-level audience
Advanced Research Workshops (ARW) are expert meetings where an intense but
informal exchange of views at the frontiers of a subject aims at identifying directions for
future action
Following a transformation of the programme in 2006 the Series has been re-named and
re-organised. Recent volumes on topics not related to security, which result from meetings
supported under the programme earlier, may be found in the NATO Science Series.
The Series is published by IOS Press, Amsterdam, and Springer, Dordrecht, in conjunction
with the NATO Public Diplomacy Division.
Sub-Series
A. Chemistry and Biology Springer
B. Physics and Biophysics Springer
C. Environmental Security Springer
D. Information and Communication Security IOS Press
E. Human and Societal Dynamics IOS Press
http://www.nato.int/science
http://www.springer.com
http://www.iospress.nl
Series B:Physics and Biophysics
Nuclear Power and
Energy Security
edited by
Samuel A. Apikyan
Advanced Science & Technology Center (ASTEC)
Yerevan, Armenia
and
David J. Diamond
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Upton, NY, U.S.A.
Published in cooperation with NATO Public Diplomacy Division
Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on
Nuclear Power and Energy Security
Yerevan, Armenia
26-29 May 2009
Library of Congress Control Number: 2009937940
ISBN 978-90-481-3503-5 (PB)
ISBN 978-90-481-3502-8 (HB)
ISBN 978-90-481-3504 -2 (e-book)
Published by Springer,
P.O. Box 17, 3300 AADordrecht, The Netherlands.
www.springer.com
Printed on acid-free paper
All Rights Reserved
© Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2010
No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming,
recording or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher, with the exception
of any material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a
computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work.
CONTENTS
Preface ix

RA President’s Message xi

Opening Remarks NATO Advanced Research Workshop xiii
David J. Diamond

CHAPTER I – DEVELOPING THE NECESSARY
INFRASTRUCTURE

IAEA Activities in Support of Countries Considering 1
Embarking on Nuclear Power Programme
Omoto Akira

Creating a National Nuclear Regulatory Authority 9
Ralph Way

Building Safeguards Infrastructure 13
John McClelland-Kerr, Rebecca Stevens

Regulatory Challenges Related to the Licensing of a New 19
Nuclear Power Plant
Marcel Maris

Infrastructure Development Through Civil Nuclear 23
Cooperation
Marc A. Humphrey, Alex R. Burkart

Nuclear Safety Infrastructure 37
Robert L. Moffitt

Upgrading Nuclear Regulatory Infrastructure in Armenia 45
Ashot Martirosyan, Armen Amirjanyan, Sergey Kacenelenbogen

Seven Principles of Highly Effective Nuclear Energy 53
Programs
Charles D. Ferguson, Philip D. Reed

v
vi CONTENTS

CHAPTER II – THE CASE FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY

Nuclear Safety and Energy Security 63
Greg Trosman

Nuclear Energy and Social Impact 69
Natividad Carpintero-Santamarsia

The Role of Nuclear Power in the Reduction of Greenhouse 79
Gas Emissions
Anthony J. Baratta

Nuclear Energy & Energy Security 89
Jumber Mamasakhlisi

Overview of the Electricity Market of Estonia and the 93
Plausibility of Nuclear Energy Production
Mariliis Lehtveer, Alan Tkaczyk

The Role of Small and Medium Reactors in the Energy 101
Security of a Country, IRIS Example
Nikola Čavlina

CHAPTER III – APPLICABLE TECHNOLOGY

Status Report on the Safety of Operating US Nuclear 109
Power Plants (Why Experts Believe that Today’s Operating Nuclear
Power Reactors are much Safer than they were 20 Years Ago)
Robert J. Budnitz

NATO-ASTEC-MATRIX – Research Environment, 121
Information Sharing and MC&A
Samuel Apikyan, David Diamond, Karen Yerznkanyan, Movses
Vardanyan, Gera Sevikyan

Establishing Control over Nuclear Materials and Radiation 127
Sources in Georgia
Grigol Basilia
CONTENTS vii

Nuclear Energy in Armenia History, Problems, Possibilities 133
and Outlook
Gera Sevikyan, Movses Vardanyan, Samuel Apikyan

Development of Nuclear Energy in Armenia 143
Aram A. Gevorgyan, Areg A. Galstyan

Some Neutron Absorbing Elements and Devices for 147
Fast Nuclear Reactors Regulation Systems
Paata J. Kervalishvili

Development of Design of a Radioisotope Switchable Neutron 157
Source and New Portable Detector of Smuggling
Lary Meskhi, L. Kurdadze

New Designs of Medium Power VVER Reactor Plants 167
S.B. Ryzhov, V.A. Mokhov, Mikhael P. Nikitenko, A.E. Chetverikov,
D.O. Veselov, I.G. Shchekin, V.V. Petrov

National Assessment Study in Armenia Using Innovative 181
Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles Methodology for an
Innovative Nuclear Systems in a Country with Small Grid
Vahan H. Sargsyan, Aram A. Gevorgyan, Areg A. Galstyan

CANDLE Reactor: An Option for Simple, Safe, High 197
Nuclear Proliferation Resistant, Small Waste and Efficient
Fuel Use Reactor
Hiroshi Sekimoto

Emissions of the Corrosion Radionuclides in an Atmosphere 205
Movses Vardanyan

IAEA Support for Operating Nuclear Reactors 211
Omoto Akira

The Solid Coolant and Prospects of Its Use in 221
Innovative Reactors
A.M. Dmitriev, Valentin P. Deniskin
viii CONTENTS

Innovation Projects of Atomic Energy Institute of 225
National Nuclear Center RK in the Area of Peaceful
Use of Atomic Energy
E. Kenzhin, Irina Tazhibayeva, Y. Vasiliyev, A. Kolodeshnikov,
A. Vurim

Innovative Designs of Nuclear Reactors 235
Boris A. Gabaraev, Yuri S. Cherepnin

Development of Devices for Handling with BN-350 247
R adioactive Waste
A.G. Iksanov, S.N. Pustobaev, Yu.P. Shirobokov, G.P. Pugachyev,
A.N. Baldov, L.N. Tikhomirov, V.V. Tkachenko, Irina L. Tazhibayeva,
A.Kh. Klepikov, O.G. Romanenko, E.A. Kenzhin, V.V. Yakovlev,
S. Khametov, V.I. Kalinkin, A.I. Skvortsov, S.A. Dmitriev,
A.E. Arustamov, Dmitri I. Zelenski, Yu.A. Serebrennikov

Institutional Support to the Nuclear Power Based on 255
Transportable Installations
Viacheslav P. Kuznetsov, Yuri S. Cherepnin

International Cooperation and Security in the Field of 261
Nuclear Energy in Armenia
Dimitri A. Khachatryan, Arman A. Avagyan, Vilen E. Stepanyan

Applied Model of Through-Wall Crack of Coolant 275
Vessels of VVER-Type Reactors
Vahram Petrosyan, Telemak Hovakimyan, M. Vardanyan,
A. Khachatryan, K. Minasyan

Index 281
Preface

The basic logic is very simple. Countries around the globe have a need for more
electrical generating capacity because of increases in population and increases in
energy use per capita. The needs are constrained by the requirement that the base-
load energy source be economical, secure, and not emit climate-changing gases.
Nuclear power fits this description. Therefore, many countries that have not had a
nuclear power program (or only had a small program) see a need to develop one in
the future.
However, the development of a national nuclear energy program is not so
simple. The purpose of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Nuclear
Power and Energy Security was to contribute to our understanding of how these
programs might evolve. The workshop took place 26–29 May 2009 in Yerevan,
Armenia. Approximately 50 participants discussed the infrastructure that is needed
and some of the reactor options that might be considered. The papers in this book
helped define the discussion that took place.
The infrastructure that is needed includes a legal framework, a functioning
regulator, a plan for waste disposal, a plan for emergency response, etc. These
needs were explained and just as importantly, it was explained what international,
bilateral, and regional cooperation is available. Although there were many coun-
tries represented, the Armenian experience was of particular interest because of
where the meeting was located.
The papers on reactor options covered both innovative and evolutionary designs.
Of particular interest with the latter are small or medium size reactors that apply
proven pressurized-water reactor design principles.
The participants judged the workshop to be a success because of the valuable
information that was provided and the stimulating discussions that took place. An-
other workshop along these same lines would be beneficial not only for those who
participated in this workshop but for participants from other countries as well. In
the meantime, it is hoped that this book will be of value to those people working
in countries to develop a new or expanded nuclear power program.
As before, this 4th NATO workshop was expertly organized by the Advanced
Science and Technology Center, ASTEC, in Yerevan, Armenia. It’s our pleasure to
thank the Organizing Committee for the logistic organization of the meeting as well
as the Local Organizing Committee members. Special thanks to K. Yerznkanyan,
A. Makaryan, T. Apikyan, M. Hovhannisyan, R. Dallakyan, E. Sevikyan for their
assistance before and during the meeting.

David J. Diamond
Samuel A. Apikyan
Editors

ix
The RA President’s Message to Participants

4th of theNATO “Nuclear Power and Energy
Security” Meeting

It’s my great pleasure to welcome the guests and participants of the 4th NATO
“Nuclear Power and Energy Security” meeting.
The ever-expanding usefulness of nuclear energy as of a sustainable and reliable
source of energy in the modern world has also caused some challenges connected
with the peaceful and safe utilization of nuclear energy. Meeting these challenges
is a shared concern and consequently it requires the expression of joint determina-
tion, consistent efforts and mutual support. This is the only way in which we can
enjoy the fruits of the greatest scientific achievements of humankind.
Taking into consideration all these challenges the government of the Republic
of Armenia continuously keeps the peaceful and safe utilization of nuclear energy
in the centre of attention. Armenia has started the realization of the project on
building a new power-generating unit which will play a significant role in the
context of our country’s mid-term and long-term economic progress and ensuring
energy security of our country.
Taking the opportunity we would like to thank IAEA and the presidents and
specialists of all those countries who assisted Armenia in the process of safe utili-
zation of the existent nuclear power station and contribute to the efforts aimed at
building another one.
Being a country which produces nuclear energy Armenia has attained much
experience in this sphere and encourages specialists of the corresponding field to
contribute their scientific potential and experience to ensuring regional and inter-
national security. In this regard, I also attach importance to the activities of the
“Advanced Science and Technology Centre (ASTEC)” founded through state sup-
port as well as to the cooperation with international research centres.
Welcoming again I wish the participants good luck, efficient discussions and
great perspectives in the process of all-inclusive cooperation. I do hope that the
conference will become a great impetus in the sphere of nuclear cooperation and
will enable us to discover new scientific potential which will contribute to the
regional and international security.

xi

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