Search

In recent decades, the number of IAEA Member States planning to extend the operation of their nuclear power plants (NPPs) beyond the time frame originally anticipated has steadily increased. These decisions have been influenced by the significant economic advantages offered by the long term operation (LTO) of existing NPPs. This Safety Report complements IAEA Safety Standards Series Nos SSR-2/2 (Rev. 1), Safety of Nuclear Power Plants: Commissioning and Operation, and SSG-48, Ageing Management and Development of a Programme for Long Term Operation of Nuclear Power Plants. It provides information on selected topics from the latter, and specifically, it addresses data collection and record keeping, scope setting for structures, systems and components, plant programmes, corrective action programmes, and documentation of ageing management and LTO assessment. The publication focuses on NPPs throughout their lifetime, including operation beyond the time frame originally established for their operation and decommissioning, while considering the different reactor designs that exist around the world. It is also relevant for facilities for spent fuel storage and radioactive waste management at NPPs. It may also be used as a basis for managing the ageing of other nuclear installations and for radioactive waste management facilities. This Safety Report is intended to provide information for operating organizations but may be also used by regulatory bodies.

Fundamental Issues Critical to the Success of Nuclear Projects presents a complete analysis of the core considerations for those deploying nuclear power plants, managing existing plants, and also for those developing and building new plants. It includes critical considerations, such as cost-estimation, safety procedures, and regulatory compliance, manpower optimization and development, and the application of innovative technologies, such as the use of robotics. Those important issues have been addressed in a systematic way, and explanations have been provided on how the nuclear industry has continuously found solutions to mitigate and eventually solve them properly. - Discusses innovative technologies being implemented in international nuclear plants to improve efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness in new, existing, and decommissioned nuclear power plants - Provides guidance on difficult cost estimation for nuclear projects, as well as safety procedures, legislation, and regulatory compliance both inside and outside of the United States - Considers the future of nuclear energy and analyses the challenges ahead for a sustainable nuclear energy future

Within the nuclear field, a vast body of knowledge, involving scientific, technical and managerial fields, is distributed among many organizations of different types. Managing and provisioning distributed knowledge is therefore becoming one of the major challenges in federated organizational environments. This publication provides information to organizations dealing with nuclear knowledge and its management. It covers an introduction to semantic information technologies, the Worldwide Web standards developed for interoperability, the construction of knowledge bases on the basis of distributed knowledge, and the development of knowledge driven applications. In addition to providing insight into the development of distributed knowledge bases, the intent of this publication is to provide examples of applications of semantic technologies specifically in the nuclear field.

This publication provides practical guidance and information to Member States on how to manage nuclear safety knowledge at the national level, beyond the boundaries of individual organizations. It describes the underlying concepts, challenges and available approaches and tools, as well as summarizing the experience gained by Member States to date. The publication is in line with the ultimate objective of all nuclear safety knowledge management activities, which is to sustain and improve the competence of individuals and the capacity of organizations or countries to use such knowledge effectively and responsibly.

Internal hazards have to be considered in the design of items important to safety in a nuclear power plant. The objective is to provide appropriate features to prevent internal hazards and mitigate their effects to ensure that safety is not compromised. This Safety Guide provides recommendations to regulatory bodies, nuclear power plant designers and licensees on hazard assessment (including for combinations of hazards) and design concepts for protection against internal hazards in nuclear power plants, in order to meet the requirements established in IAEA Safety Standards Series No. SSR 2/1 (Rev. 1), Safety of Nuclear Power Plants: Design. The following internal hazards are reviewed in this Safety Guide: fires, explosions, missiles, pipe breaks, flooding, collapse of structures and falling objects with a focus on heavy load drop, electromagnetic interference and release of hazardous substances originating from within the site boundary.

In using risk-informed approaches for ensuring safety of operating nuclear power plants (NPPs), risk importance measures obtained from probabilistic risk assessments (PRAs) of the plants are integral elements of consideration in many cases. Obtaining these measures in appropriate forms is helpful for decision makers and can facilitate the use of risk information.

This book, prepared by NEA member country experts, contains data and analyses relevant to nuclear power plant life management and the plants extended, longer-term operation (LTO). It addresses technical, economic and environmental aspects and provides insights into the benefits and challenges of plant life management and LTO.--Publisher's description.