Towards Safe Long-Term Operation of Reactor Pressure Vessels

This publication summarizes the long term operation (LTO) conditions in European NPPs and provides recommendations on reactor pressure vessel (RPV) irradiation surveillance based on the work performed in the Work Package 7 “Surveillance Guidelines” of the LONGLIFE international project [1]. The LONGLIFE project "Treatment of Long Term Irradiation Embrittlement Effects in RPV Safety Assessment" was 50% funded by the Euratom 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission. The project, coordinated by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, successfully finalized in Long2014. Figure 1 shows the different activities carried out by the project partners (16 organizations).JRC.F.5-Nuclear Reactor Safety Assessmen

Materials for sustainable nuclear energy: a European strategic research and innovation agenda for all reactor generations

International audienceNuclear energy is presently the single major low-carbon electricity source in Europe and is overall expected to maintain (perhaps eventually even increase) its current installed power from now to 2045. Long-term operation (LTO) is a reality in essentially all nuclear European coun-tries, even when planning to phase out. New builds are planned. Moreover, several European countries, including non-nuclear or phasing out ones, have interests in next generation nuclear systems. Materials and material science play in this framework a crucial role towards safer, more efficient, more economical and overall more sustainable nuclear energy. This paper pro-poses a research agenda that combines modern digital technologies with materials science prac-tices to pursue a change of paradigm that promotes innovation, equally serving the different nuclear energy interests and positions throughout Europe. The paper chooses to overview structural and fuel materials used in current generation reactors, as well as the wider spectrum of them for next generation reactors, summarizing the relevant issues. Next it describes the ma-terials science approaches that are common to any nuclear materials (including classes that are not addressed here, such as concrete, polymers and functional materials), identifying for each of them a research agenda goal. It is concluded that among these goals are the development of structured materials qualification test-beds and materials acceleration platforms (MAPs) for ma-terials that operate under harsh conditions. Another goal is the development of mul-ti-parameter-based approaches for materials health monitoring based on different non-destructive examination and testing (NDE&T) techniques. Hybrid models that suitably combine physics-based and data-driven approaches for materials behaviour prediction can val-uably support these developments, together with the creation and population of a centralised, smart database for nuclear materials

Reactor pressure vessel surveillance

This publication summarizes the long term operation (LTO) conditions in European NPPs and provides recommendations on reactor pressure vessel (RPV) irradiation surveillance based on the work performed in the Work Package 7 “Surveillance Guidelines” of the LONGLIFE international project. The LONGLIFE project "Treatment of Long Term Irradiation Embrittlement Effects in RPV Safety Assessment" was 50% funded by the Euratom 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission. Specific scientific and technical issues addressed in this publication are the following: • Surveillance standards and procedures. • Reuse of tested irradiated surveillance specimens. • Transferability of test reactor results to LWR conditions. • Extension of RPV irradiation surveillance programmes. • Withdrawal scheme for LTO surveillance programmes. The objective of the surveillance guidelines is to support the potential end-user (utilities, nuclear power plants, research institutes, etc.) in selecting the appropriate strategy and technical approaches for RPV irradiation surveillance for LTO. In this way contributing to a reliable monitoring of long-term irradiation effects in RPV, and supporting the European efforts towards harmonisation of procedures for RPV surveillance and safety assessment in the light of LTO.JRC.F.5-Nuclear Reactor Safety Assessmen