Evaluation of Reactor Internals Integrity and Lifetime According to the NTD ASI

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milan Brumovsky
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Stress Corrosion ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Ductile Failure ◽  
Residual Lifetime ◽  
Stress Effect ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Technical Documentation ◽  
Very High ◽  
Reactor Internals

Reactor internals are components that are no typical pressure boundary but they are nevertheless very important as they hold fuel elements and all reactor control system elements and thus must ensure their safe and reliable operation during the whole reactor life under all operating and even beyond bases regimes. In principle, reactor internals can be replaced but their weight, quantity of very high activated material and cost such possibility practically excluded. Thus, evaluation of the reactor internals condition and prediction of their behavior during the whole or even extended lifetime is of high importance. Reactor internals are subjected to very high neutron irradiation that could initiated not only stress corrosion (irradiation assisted) cracking but also large embrittlement and changes in dimensions (swelling and creep). VERLIFE – “Unified Procedure for Lifetime Assessment of Components and Piping in WWER NPPs during Operation” was initiated and co-ordinated by the Czech and was developed within the 5th Framework Program of the European Union in 2003 and later upgraded within the 6th Framework Program “COVERS – Safety of WWER NPPs” of the European Union in 2008. This Procedure had to fill the gap in original Soviet/Russian Codes and Rules for Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) with WWER (Water-Water-Energetic-Reactor = PWR type) type reactors, as those codes were developed only for design and manufacture and were not changed since their second edition in 1989. VERLIFE Procedure is based on these Russian codes but incorporates also new developments in research, mainly in fracture mechanics, and also some principal approaches used in PWR codes. Within the last upgrading and principal extending of this VERLIFE Procedure was developed within the 3-years IAEA project (in close co-operation with another project of the 6th Framework Program of the European Union “NULIFE – Plant Life Management of NPPs”) that started in 2009 with final approval and editing in 2013”) a part dealing with the evaluation of reactor internals lifetime was elaborated.. This IAEA VERLIFE procedure for internals has been implemented into the existing Normative Technical Documentation (NTD) ASI (Czech Association of Mechanical Engineers), Section IV – Evaluation of Residual Lifetime of Components and Piping in WWER type NPPs. Main damaging mechanisms that should be taken into account in reactor internals and the procedure are described in detail with necessary formulae for materials of internals: - Radiation hardening - Radiation embrittlement - Radiation swelling - Radiation creep - Swelling under stress effect - Swelling inducing embrittlement - Irradiated assisted stress corrosion cracking - Transformation austenite-ferrite and also the method for evaluation of the resistance against non-ductile failure of postulated defect. The paper will describe these main principles and also more detailed information on the procedure for evaluation of reactor internals will be given.

NTD ASI, Section IV: Evaluation of Residual Lifetime of Components and Piping in WWER Type NPPs

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milan Brumovsky
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Pressure Vessel ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Reactor Pressure Vessel ◽  
Residual Lifetime ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Technical Documentation ◽  
Break Zone ◽  
Reactor Pressure

VERLIFE – “Unified Procedure for Lifetime Assessment of Components and Piping in WWER NPPs during Operation” was initiated and co-ordinated by the Czech and was developed within the 5th Framework Program of the European Union in 2003 and later upgraded within the 6th Framework Program “COVERS – Safety of WWER NPPs” of the European Union in 2008. This Procedure had to fill the gap in original Soviet/Russian Codes and Rules for Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) with WWER (Water-Water-Energetic-Reactor = PWR type) type reactors, as those codes were developed only for design and manufacture and were not changed since their second edition in 1989. VERLIFE Procedure is based on these Russian codes but incorporates also new developments in research, mainly in fracture mechanics, and also some principal approaches used in PWR codes. Last upgrading and principal extending of this VERLIFE Procedure was realized within the 3-years IAEA project (in close co-operation with another project of the 6th Framework Program of the European Union “NULIFE – Plant Life Management of NPPs”) that started in 2009 with final approval and editing in 2013. As all versions of the VERLIFE procedure were coordinated by the Czech and first version was based on the Czech version of the NTD ASI, there have been simultaneously incorporated into the Czech NTD ASI (Normative Technical Documentation of the Czech Association of Mechanical Engineers) guidelines that are accepted by the Czech State Office for Nuclear Safety for the use in evaluation of Czech NPPs. This document has several parts: Section IV – “Evaluation of Residual Lifetime of Components and Piping in WWER type NPPs” deals with the evaluation during NPP operation. Main part of the document is divided into four main parts: - Evaluation of resistance of components and piping against non-ductile failure - Evaluation of resistance of component and piping against fatigue damage, - Evaluation of resistance of components and piping against corrosion-mechanical damage - Evaluation of residual lifetime of components and piping with defects found during in-service inspections Additionally, several appendices are included for detailed description of individual parts of evaluation, e.g. - Determination of neutron fluences in reactor pressure vessel and internals - Determination of degradation of materials during operation - Requirements for evaluation of pressurized thermal shock regimes - Evaluation of corrosion-errosion effects in piping - Environmental fatigue evaluation - Evaluation of reactor pressure vessel failure probability Finally, the following appendices dealing with components integrity have been included: - Lifetime of reactor pressure vessel internals - Leak-before-break concept for WWER piping - No-break-zone for WWER piping The paper will describe structure and main principles of this Section IV.

Part VI Global Approach of State Aid Law—WTO Law and EU Trade Defence Instruments, 2 Anti-subsidy Law and Practice of the European Union

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kreuschitz Viktor ◽  
Nehl Hanns Peter
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Global Approach ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
The Past ◽  
Export Subsidies ◽  
Very High ◽  
Over Time ◽  
The Eu

This concluding chapter explores EU's anti-subsidy instruments, which are designed to address subsidization by other WTO members. After a hesitant start, the EU since 1995 has progressively used the AS instrument to act against subsidization by third-country governments. While initially focusing on relatively clear-cut export subsidies, over time the EU has more and more also countervailed domestic subsidy programmes. This is clearest in the AS cases initiated against China during the past five years, where the majority of the countervailed programmes have consisted of domestic subsidies. In this context, it is important to note that the findings of specificity reached by the EU in cases concerning China are largely based on the use of facts available, resulting from the imposition of very high burdens of proof on the Chinese government that domestic subsidies in fact are not specific.

scholarly journals The Development of Electromobility in Poland and EU States as a Tool for Management of CO2 Emissions

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (15) ◽  
pp. 2942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karol Tucki ◽  
Olga Orynycz ◽  
Antoni Świć ◽  
Mateusz Mitoraj-Wojtanek
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
European Union ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Original Method ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Car Market ◽  
The Impact

The article analyzes the dynamics of the development of the electromobility sector in Poland in the context of the European Union and due to the economic situation and development of the electromobility sector in the contexts of Switzerland and Norway. On the basis of obtained data, a forecast was made which foresees the most likely outlook of the electric car market in the coming years. The forecast was made using the creeping trend method, and extended up to 2030. As part of the analysis of the effect of the impact of electromobility, an original method was proposed for calculating the primary energy factor (PEF) primary energy ratio in the European Union and in its individual countries, which illustrates the conversion efficiency of primary energy into electricity and the overall efficiency of the power system. The original method was also verified, referring to the methods proposed by the Fraunhofer-Institut. On the basis of all previous actions and analyses, an assessment was made of the impact of the development of the electromobility sector on air quality in the countries studied. Carbon dioxide tank-to-wheels emission reductions which result from the conversion of the car fleet from conventional vehicles to electric motors were then calculated. In addition to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, other pollutant emissions were also calculated, such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). The increase in the demand for electricity resulting from the needs of electric vehicles was also estimated. On this basis, and also on the basis of previously calculated primary energy coefficients, the emission reduction values have been adjusted for additional emissions resulting from the generation of electricity in power plants.

Spain: A Success Story Shadowed Only by a Poor Productivity Performance

2007 ◽  
Vol 200 ◽  
pp. 87-95
Author(s):  
Matilde Mas ◽  
Javier Quesada
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Productivity Growth ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Success Story ◽  
Spanish Economy ◽  
Multifactor Productivity ◽  
Service Sectors ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Very High

Since joining the European Union in 1986, the performance of the Spanish economy has been quite remarkable, acting as a good example for new entrants of what can be accomplished in twenty years. Its ability to generate employment has been astonishing. Departing from an environment of very high unemployment (close to 25 per cent), Spain has become the country of destination most preferred by immigrants. However, it has also had a scant productivity performance. The main burden on productivity growth lies with the construction sector and almost all private service sectors with the unique exception of the financial sector. Most likely, over the next years, the continuity of the Spanish success will require a reversal of the sources of growth, shifting from labour creation to improvements in multifactor productivity.

scholarly journals The Bulgarian Version of the Multidimensional Driving Style Inventory: Psychometric Properties

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zornitsa Totkova ◽  
Rositsa Racheva
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
High Velocity ◽  
Road Safety ◽  
Structural Organization ◽  
Traffic Accidents ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Risky Driving ◽  
Driving Style ◽  
Very High

Road safety is one of the main priorities for the European Union. Different strategies and policies strive to increase the level of road safety across Europe and although this level has increased in the last couple of years the number of injuries and fatalities resulting from traffic accidents is still very high. The multidimensional driving style inventory (MDSI) is a self-reported instrument for the assessment of a person’s habitual driving style and its connection to risky driving behaviour and involvement in different traffic accidents. The instrument was originally developed in Israel and there are several previous adaptations in different countries such as Argentina and Romania. The main objective of this study is to develop a valid and reliable version of the MDSI in Bulgaria. A study was conducted to evaluate the construction validity of the instrument and to test the validity of the factors in a Bulgarian sample (n = 456, male = 204; female = 252; average age = 37). Eight factors representing a specific driving style—dissociative, anxious, risky, angry, high-velocity, distress reduction, patient and careful and irrational—identified by previous versions of the MDSI are included in this study. The overall number of items in the inventory is 57 with Cronbach’s alpha = 0.78. The current study in Bulgaria confirmed the structural organization of the initial version of the inventory. The results of the conducted study supported the reliability and validity of the Bulgarian version of the MDSI. The possible implementation of the instrument for the development of different programs for preventions and interventions is discussed here within.

scholarly journals On the Assessment of the 2030 Power Sector Transition in Spain

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Gómez-Calvet ◽  
José M. Martínez-Duart
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Demand Curve ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Power Sector ◽  
Programming Techniques ◽  
Coal Power Plants ◽  
Coal Power ◽  
Expected Increase

Recently, the European Union has recognized that more ambitious plans in reducing emissions are needed in order to comply with the target 1.5–2° warming limit for this century. Along this line, the main objective of this paper is to study the evolution of the power sector in Spain, taking into account the Paris Agreement and the further European Union Directives. In particular, we have studied the substitution by renewable energies of all coal power plants before 2030. For this study, we have applied linear programming techniques to optimize the deployment of the additional wind and solar resources. If, in addition to the substitution of coal power plants, we also consider the expected increase in demand for the period 2019–2030, we find that the present park of renewables should be increased by a factor of about 115%. We have also statistically analyzed the amount of surpluses and shortages in energy, assuming that the demand curve would have a daily shape similar to the present one. As a result, we have found that additional storage capabilities of around 55 GWh for 11 h would be needed in order not to waste more than 25% surplus energy by curtailment. As for backup, we propose in a first step to use the overwhelming amount of gas combined cycle units which are available.

scholarly journals Competitiveness of the European Union in Light of Foreign Trade

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (Special Issue) ◽  
pp. 413-422
Author(s):  
Róbert Magda ◽  
Norbert Bozsik
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Foreign Trade ◽  
Euro Area ◽  
Rapid Growth ◽  
Oil Prices ◽  
Terms Of Trade ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Very High ◽  
The Eu ◽  
Trade Index

The main aim of this study is to ana­lyse and present com­pet­it­ive­ness in order to eval­u­ate trends in the Mem­ber States of the EU. Com­pet­it­ive­ness is ex­plained at a cor­por­ate, na­tional and re­gional level. Two im­port­ant stat­ist­ical in­dic­at­ors are con­sidered for its cal­cu­la­tion: the Com­mod­ity terms of trade (C), also known as the net barter terms of trade (N), and the In­come terms of trade index (I), which com­mu­nic­ates the cor­rel­a­tion between changes in quant­ity and price. A stable eco­nomy re­quires sur­plus in the trade bal­ance and im­prove­ment in ex­change rate. The primary pur­pose of the goods ex­port in­dic­ator is to cap­ture the know­ledge cap­ital avail­able in a coun­try in order to provide char­ac­ter­ist­ics and map the struc­ture of trade for use as gauging tools. The three na­tions in which ex­port sur­plus to GDP is very high are the Neth­er­lands, Switzer­land, and Ire­land. Neg­at­ive trade bal­ances have been re­cog­nised in Ro­mania, France, and the United King­dom. As a res­ult of changes in prices and volumes, nom­inal trad­ing val­ues were seen to rise con­tinu­ously in 2018. Global com­mod­ity ex­ports glob­ally in­creased by 10 per cent, pre­dom­in­antly pro­pelled by 20 per cent in­crease in oil prices. Rapid growth and de­vel­op­ment in in­nov­a­tion trig­gers in­crease in GDP and ex­ports. Ad­di­tion­ally, it is ob­served that ex­port grows sig­ni­fic­antly faster in the Euro Area Mem­ber States than in non-EEA Mem­ber States.

scholarly journals Management of Waste Batteries and Accumulators: Quest of European Union Goals

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (19) ◽  
pp. 6273
Author(s):  
Zbysław Dobrowolski ◽  
Łukasz Sułkowski ◽  
Wiesław Danielak
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Transmission Lines ◽  
Management System ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Energy Resource ◽  
European Union Member State ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Electric Cars ◽  
Comprehensive Management ◽  
Oversight System

Energy issues are multifaceted and are not limited to power plants, biogas plants or transmission lines. They also include the production, usage and utilisation of batteries and accumulators, which are increasingly valuable due to, among other things, the decision to develop the production of electric cars. This article creates new ground by analysing the European Union management system of batteries and accumulators in the cause–effect context. This paper’s insights have emerged iteratively based on the theory reviewed and the empirical case—a deep analysis of the Polish management system of batteries and accumulators. The findings show that the public institutions in the analysed European Union Member State—Poland—were not ready to create a fully coherent and effective oversight system on managing batteries and accumulators. It may limit the reliability of the European Union’s reporting on battery and accumulator management, which is a part of the European energy policy. The findings make two main contributions: first, they contribute to developing a theory of energy resource management; second, this article contributes to a further contextual diagnosis of the comprehensive management system of waste batteries and accumulators, which is an important part of the European Battery Alliance. Moreover, the avenues for further research emerged from the present study.

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