Approaching Nuclear Safety Culture in Fission and Fusion Technology

The topic of Nuclear Safety Culture touches several different aspects with contributions from the main organizations involved in nuclear projects and belonging to vendors, utility and regulators. Two nuclear safety directives issued by the European Commission emphasize the fundamental principle of national responsibility for nuclear safety and are implemented in each member country’s legislation. An example of fission implementation is highlighted, referring to the Czech Republic legislation; an example of application in fusion technology is the implementation of the Nuclear Safety Culture in the ITER project, located in Cadarache, in the south of France. The aim of the paper is to highlight the importance of this field, pointing out the cross reference between fission and fusion technology as applied in two countries, with concrete experiences and future prospects for nuclear technologies.

Creation of Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor ITER as an Example of International Scientific and Technical Cooperation in Energy Sector

The article analyses the prospects for the implementation of the largest international scientific and technical project (“mega-science” project) ITER of controlled thermonuclear fusion. With the depletion of fossil fuel reserves, the role of new energy sources, including those that have not yet been developed, is increasing. Due to the extremely high costs and ambitious scientific goals facing the project, its practical implementation and funding are possible in close international scientific and technical cooperation in the energy sector. The role of an international group of seven participants (Russia, the EU, Japan, China, India, the Republic of Korea and the USA) in the creation of laboratory fusion facilities is noted. The choice of a Tokamak-type design for the ITER international reactor being built in France is the recognition of Russian’s decisive role. The article reveals the main parameters of international partnership, the specification of which is carried out on a regular basis at ITER coordination meetings with the participation of representatives of national ITER agencies. The parameters of interaction with scientific institutions of countries that are not members of the consortium are given. The evolution of the project since its launch in 1985 as a joint Soviet-American initiative is shown. Four options for the initial placement of the reactor are considered: in Spain, France, Canada and Japan. The features of the organizational and legal regulation of the international consortium for the management of ITER are disclosed, including the establishment of the ITER International Organization for Thermonuclear Energy for the joint implementation of the ITER project in 2006. The role of the in-kind contribution of countries in international projects in the exchange of unique world-class technologies is discussed. The main goals set by the countries participating in the project and the time horizons for their practical achievement are listed. The parameters of Russia's participation in the project are given, the prospects for further cooperation in this area are evaluated. Particular attention is paid to the peculiarities of the political interaction of the participating countries, as well as to the intermediate results already achieved during the implementation of the ITER project.

RADIOGRAPHIC TESTING BY COMPUTED RADIOGRAPHY (RT-CR) OF THE HELIUM INLET WELDS (HI) OF THE POLOIDAL FIELD COIL (PF1), PRODUCED BY JSC NIIEFA (SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF ELECTROPHYSICAL APPARATUS) WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE INTERNATIONAL THERMONUCLEAR EXPERIMENTAL REACTOR (ITER) PROJECT

The manufacturing and non-destructive testing of the superconducting poloidal coil PF1 is one of the tasks of NIIEFA, the member of the international ITER project. Radiographic films were traditionally used for the purposes of radiation non-destructive testing. The technology of computed radiography was used to substitute films. It improved the quality of testing and increased productivity. Comparisons of testing results were carried out using films and imaging plates. The “Test Measurement for Qualification of Computed Radiography method for HI PF1 Weld Seams testing” was developed. It allowed to do testing using imaging plates without installing a duplex wire indicator. Compliance with the standards requirements for unsharpness is confirmed using certified specimens.