Construction Of Nuclear Power Plants Research Articles

Competitiveness of companies in the design, engineering and construction of nuclear power plants

Increasing electricity consumption in the modern world makes the unique nuclear power market. It provides growing secured demand, specific external development factors. However, only four companies involved in the design, engineering, and construction of nuclear power plants (NPPs). The competitiveness of those companies included into M. Porter’s theory framework, but has its own characteristics. The purpose of the study is to determine the specifics of companies competitiveness engaged in the design, engineering, and construction of nuclear power plants, and assess the factors and prospects for their development. Besides, we define the theoretical base of international competitiveness with regard to the specific features of this economic sector, characterise the companies operating on the market, and build a model of the competitiveness formation of four representatives under the domestic factors of development. In conclusion, we will present the prospects for ROSATOM development in an internationally competitive environment. The models of competitiveness formation show the positive impact of investments in human capital, ESG agenda implementation, and long-term prospects of R&D projects. The research provides information for developing the theory of competitiveness and improving the company’s activities in this economic sector.

Drifting towards multidimensional collaborative innovation: the co-evolution of collaboration networks and policy in China’s nuclear power industry

Purpose Nuclear power is a stable and reliable energy source that can improve energy structure while reducing carbon emissions, which is of great significance for environmental protection and combating climate change. As a unique industry, it is facing rare development opportunities in China and has broad market prospects. However, the characteristics of technical difficulty, loose organizational structure and uneven regional distribution limit the expansion of the nuclear power industry. This paper aims to a better understanding of the accumulation process for innovation capability from the perspective of network evolution and provides policy guidance for the market development of the nuclear power industry (NPI). Design/methodology/approach Methodologically, social network analysis is used to explore the co-evolution of multidimensional collaboration networks. First, the development and policy evolution of the NPI is introduced to divide the evolution periods. Then, the authors identify and analyze the core organizations, technologies and regions that promote nuclear power patent collaboration. Furthermore, three levels of collaboration networks based on organizations, technologies and regions are constructed to analyze the coevolution of patent networks in China’s NPI. Findings The results show that nuclear power enterprises always play the foremost role in the organizational collaboration network (OCN), and the dominance of foreign enterprises is replaced by Chinese state-owned enterprises in the third period. The technology hotspot has shifted from nuclear power plant construction to the control system. The regional collaboration network was initially formed in the coastal areas and gradually moved inland, with Guangdong and Beijing becoming the two cores of the network. The scale of three collaboration networks is still expanding but the speed has slowed down. Originality/value In response to the pain points of the NPI, this research focuses on multidimensional collaborative innovation, investigates the dynamic evolution process of collaborative innovation networks in China’s NPI and links policy evolution with network evolution creatively. The ultimate result not only helps nuclear power enterprises integrate innovative resources in complex environments but also promotes industrial upgrading and market development.

Intelligent Carabiner as a Modern Means of Protection During the Construction of Nuclear Power Plants

Intelligent Carabiner as a Modern Means of Protection During the Construction of Nuclear Power Plants

Tri-Loop design and thermoeconomic analysis for the high temperature gas cooled nuclear reactor coupling energy storage system

Thermal energy storage is a proposed solution that enables nuclear power plants to adjust their output without altering power levels. This technology manages fluctuations in the power generation process by storing generated heat above demand levels until it is required to produce steam. Despite the initial investment needed for infrastructure construction, these costs are easily offset by the ultimate returns, especially when efficiency is improved to 85% to 90%. In the context of nuclear power plant applications, helium molten salt energy storage systems demonstrate significant potential as an innovative power generation configuration. In this study, three cycle systems—helium, molten salt, and water (steam)—were employed to investigate and optimize the performance of the system. A series of modeling and simulation processes were conducted using EBSILON software to explore the impact of various parameters (such as pressure, reheat stages, and temperature) on the thermal efficiency of the power plant under both design and off-design conditions. To further study the system's performance, a thermo-economic analysis method based on the second law of thermodynamics was adopted. A thermal-economic analysis model was established, and a fire use analysis was performed on key equipment under representative conditions. Through this approach, we identified the distribution of fire use losses within the system, with the steam generator being the primary contributor to fire use losses among the three systems. Through comprehensive analysis of the simulation results, we conclude that the system exhibits outstanding thermal-economic performance when high-pressure parameters are combined with high temperature. This insight is crucial for modeling and optimizing the construction of nuclear power plants in China, providing a more comprehensive understanding of factors influencing thermal efficiency and contributing to more informed decision-making for the design and operation of tri-generation nuclear power stations.

Developing a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making model for nuclear power plant location selection using Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process and Fuzzy VIKOR methods focused on socio-economic factors

In response to its position as the fourth most populous country globally, Indonesia is exploring constructing nuclear power plants (NPPs) as a sustainable energy solution. A pivotal step in this initiative is selecting an appropriate NPP site. This study employs two Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods, the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy-AHP) and Fuzzy VIKOR, to identify the most suitable location for an NPP, focusing on socio-economic factors. The Fuzzy-AHP method is utilized to prioritize ten sub-criteria: transmission network, operating costs, economic impact, security, transportation network, legal considerations, the impact of tourism, land ownership, historical sites, and public acceptance. Following this, the Fuzzy VIKOR method leverages these prioritized criteria to evaluate two potential sites: East Kalimantan and West Kalimantan. The analysis reveals that security, transmission, and transportation networks emerge as the top priorities. The application of the Fuzzy VIKOR algorithm identifies West Kalimantan as the optimal site for NPP construction, evidenced by its lower VIKOR index of 0.3599, indicating a higher overall preference based on the evaluated criteria. The study demonstrates that the integration of Fuzzy-AHP and Fuzzy VIKOR methods prioritizes critical socio-economic factors and quantitatively assesses potential sites, offering a systematic and objective approach to support decision-making in NPP site selection.

Quantitative Assessment of Gaseous Effluents during Routine Operation: A Comparative Study of Planned Nuclear Power Plants at Lubiatowo-Kopalino and Pątnów Sites in Poland

On September 2021, Polish government declared that six pressurized water reactors with combined capacity of 6–9 GWe will be built by 2040 to reduce Poland’s reliance on coal. Due to the adopted schedule, construction of the first nuclear power plant will begin in 2026, with the first reactor capacity of 1–1.6 GWe to be operational in 2033. The Polish authorities announced in 2022 the selection of two locations and technologies for Poland’s first commercial nuclear power plants. Westinghouse AP1000 reactor was selected by Polish government to be built as the first plant in the location of Lubiatowo-Kopalino, on the coast of the country. In the meantime, Poland’s ZE PAK, Polska Grupa Energetyczna, and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power have signed the letter of intent to collaborate on the project that evaluates the feasibility of building South Korean APR1400 on Pątnów site in central Poland. The objective of this study was to acquire and examine the gaseous effluents released during the standard operation of the AP1000 and APR1400 reactor technologies, with the primary goal of focusing on estimating the potential exposure of the general public. The effluents were calculated by using the GALE code based on each nuclear reactor technical specification. The obtained results were compared with those included in the Design Control Document for each reactor. Subsequently, the HotSpot software was used to calculate the radiation risk for downwind areas by utilizing GALE code results as source terms together with specific meteorological data corresponding for each localization. The results for AP1000 at Lubiatowo-Kopalino site and for APR1400 at Pątnów site were analysed and compared in the study. As the study findings were evaluated with the Polish radiation limits for the general public, all doses remained below the legal thresholds. With no previous alike studies conducted, this research begins the analysis of radiation impacts associated with the planned nuclear power plant in Poland during normal operation.

Numerical investigations of transient thermal loading of steam turbines for SMR plants

One of the well-known technologies that fit well into the goal of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is nuclear energy. In particular, the change in approach to the design and construction of nuclear power plants led to the development of small modular reactors (SMRs), which are characterized by a broader range of possible applications than large nuclear reactors and the ability to flexibly operate as per load demand. This paper presents an analysis of the thermal loads of a steam turbine rotor operating in a power plant with SMR. Steam-water cycle and turbine train of a 300 MW unit are presented. High-pressure steam turbine rotor and its thermal loading due to varying steam conditions are investigated for a cold startup designed with consideration of the thermal characteristics of nuclear reactors. It was shown by numerical simulations that steam condensation on rotor surfaces plays a crucial role in determining its thermal behaviour. Comparison with conventional rotors has shown that the thermal loading of nuclear turbine rotors is lower and more stable than that of conventional turbines.

Multicriteria Decision Making in Site Selection for Nuclear Power Plants

Nuclear energy is an important alternative energy source. However, construction of nuclear power plants (NPPs) requires the consideration of environmental, economic, socioeconomic, health, and safety factors since using such an energy source involves some risks during the operation lifetime of a NPP. Accordingly, the selection of the most suitable site for a NPP yields a multicriteria decision making (MCDM) problem. Natural hazards, health hazards, environmental conditions, population density, and the availability of water resources are among the main factors that should be considered. To demonstrate the application of the proposed methodology, two previously identified NPP sites in Turkey, specifically, Mersin-Akkuyu and Sinop-Abalı, are compared utilizing the multicriteria utility functions. In the comparison of these two sites, seismic hazard, tsunami hazard; extreme wind hazard; distance to facilities; population density; proximity to the city center; existence of forests, natural parks, nature conservation areas, and natural monuments; biodiversity; and immovable cultural heritage have been identified as the most important critical criteria and are evaluated concerning the utility functions developed for each criterion. The optimal site is selected within the framework of the MCDM rules, and is recommended as the output of the study.

The development of the international nuclear power plant construction market in the context of nuclear power social acceptability research

Aim. To determine the vector of influence of public opinion on the prospects of development of the international market of nuclear power plant (NPP) construction in the conditions of global energy transition and to formulate the most priority directions of communication work in order to increase the Russian export of nuclear power technologies in the markets of developing countries.Objectives. To identify the current trends of social acceptability of nuclear power in the world; to consider a number of tools used to work with public opinion in the field of improving the reputation of nuclear power in countries-importers of nuclear power technologies; to substantiate the importance of communication work in order to increase Russian exports of nuclear power technologies in the markets of developing countries.Methods. Data from various sociological surveys were used to analyze the current state of social acceptability of nuclear power plants. The key methods of this study are comparative method and case study method.Results. The analysis of the international experience of society’s influence on energy policy has shown that it is impossible to implement international projects in the field of NPP construction without public support for the initiative on nuclear power development. The analysis revealed that one of the competitive advantages of ROSATOM in the international NPP construction market is the inclusion of public communication work in the export offer. Based on the analysis of the results of sociological surveys, it was found out that within the framework of communication work with the public in the importer country it is reasonable to emphasize the economic benefits of NPP operation and continuity of its functioning.Conclusions. The article shows the possibilities of increasing the Russian export of nuclear power technologies in the markets of developing countries, due to the global trend to increase the social acceptability of nuclear power and the presence of relevant competitive advantages, including within the framework of the implementation of communication strategy.

Урановые проекты в странах Центральной Азии: перспективы и сложности реализации

The article analyzes the issues of possible construction of nuclear power plants, to which the political elite of most Central Asian countries has recently shown deep interest. The worsening problem of power shortages in the region necessitates the search for alternative power-generating capacities. Emphasis is placed on the ura-nium potential of Central Asian countries, which allows them not only to use it as a resource for the creation of new energy facilities based on new technologies, but also turns these countries into an object of global geopo-litical competition. In the future, the interest of Central Asian countries in the implementation of uranium pro-jects will only increase due to socio-economic factors, such as the need to ensure energy security as a strategic basis for sustainable economic development and meeting the needs of the population in electricity. It is con-cluded that both internal (environmental threats, political instability) and external (geopolitical rivalry) factors will slow down the implementation of uranium projects.

The Economic and Social Dimension of Energy Transformation in the Face of the Energy Crisis: The Case of Poland

Energy transformation in Poland, including the need to accelerate the shift away from hard coal and lignite in the power system, has been taking place in the face of the energy crisis. Ambitious climate and economic goals force the development of renewable energy sources, but they require legislative changes for the benefit of socially vulnerable consumers. This is important from the point of view of counteracting energy poverty. Energy transformation is not only a change in the fuel used, but most of all, the path and basis of low-carbon development that changes many socio-economic systems. The aim of this study is to link the development and environmental challenges in the studied subject matter with social challenges. The analyses show that it is necessary to strengthen the use of local energy potential and resources, and to activate local communities. The construction of nuclear power plants is also crucial. The results of the presented theoretical and empirical studies can be the basis for a revision of the energy policy in Poland in the area of the social dimension of the energy sector.

Assessing the potential tsunami source of the Manila trench at the Bengkayang nuclear power plant site in Kalimantan using topographical details

Tsunamis pose a significant threat to the construction of Nuclear Power Plants. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out a comprehensive study regarding the potential threat of tsunamis and mitigation measures using detailed data at prospective locations. This assessment is a prerequisite for effective environmental impact planning and analysis. To determine the suitability of a prospective location, careful consideration of natural factors, including earthquakes as triggers for tsunamis, is essential. The main objective of this tsunami research is to assess the level of safety of potential locations against tsunami hazards and develop appropriate mitigation strategies. This research uses the Cornell Multigrid Coupled Tsunami (COMCOT) tsunami modeling technique. This modeling approach utilizes topographic and bathymetric data obtained through extensive field surveys. In addition, this research aims to determine the maximum tsunami height in the inundation area and identify potential tsunami hazards arising from various scenarios related to the active tectonic potential of the Philippine Manila Trench. The Bengkayang Gosong Beach area and West Kalimantan are among the candidate locations that may be affected with the estimated tsunami height being between 0.48 meters and 0.62 meters. The tsunami arrival time was between 9 hours 10 minutes to 9 hours 24 minutes. These findings play an important role in conducting comprehensive risk assessments for nuclear power plant development, ensuring that necessary steps are taken to reduce potential hazards associated with tsunamis.

СОВОКУПНЫЙ РИСК ПРИ РЕАЛИЗАЦИИ КРУПНОГО КОМПЛЕКСНОГО ПРОЕКТА СТРОИТЕЛЬСТВА АТОМНОЙ ЭЛЕКТРОСТАНЦИИ

The article identifies the problems of the modern international nuclear energy market, analyzes domestic and foreign experience in the construction of technically complex megaprojects, studies and systematizes organizational and technical aspects of the concept of reliability and risks of technically complex industrial facilities on the example of an international project for the construction of a nuclear power plant. The purpose of the research article is to solve one of the most important tasks – to determine the total investment risk and its assessment in an inextricable relationship with the stages of the project life cycle. The article systematizes both the principles of assessing the organizational and technical reliability of the system under study, as well as the methods of types of aggregate investment risk. A proprietary multi-criteria approach to the concept of reliability is being developed using modern theoretical methods in the context of the development of nuclear power plant construction projects abroad, respectively, taking into account country and industry risks.

Public opinion on nuclear power plants in Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America: A prescription for peculiar Japan

In attempts to solve climate change and energy security issues, many countries have made plans to invest in nuclear energy. Public opinion on nuclear energy is an important factor in building support for the construction and operation of new nuclear power plants (NPPs). In this study, public opinion surveys on existing NPP use and the new construction of NPPs were conducted simultaneously using the same method in Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Japanese respondents were neutral on existing and new NPPs, citing “no strong reason”. In all three countries, the term “new construction” made the respondents anxious about NPP safety. This study also examined whether Japanese respondents’ attitudes change when the reasons for negative opinions toward NPPs are solved. By using the phrase “NPPs that no longer require evacuation,” respondent anxiety was resolved, and an increase in the respondents who agreed with the new construction of NPPs was observed. For Japanese respondents who believed that the problem of radioactive waste had not yet been resolved, the selection of a disposal site was not perceived as a solution. Based on these findings, this research provides valuable insights that can help advance energy policy in Japan.

Special Issue: “The Future of Nuclear Power for Clean Energy Systems”

Currently, many countries are considering the construction of nuclear power plants as a result of rapidly changing global political and economic conditions [...]

Studi Penerapan General Safety Requirement Part 7 IAEA untuk PLTN Apung

Land use is a growing concern due to population growth, infrastructure development, and the decline of forestry and agricultural sectors, with the energy sector, including nuclear power plant (NPP) construction, gaining prominence. Because of this, more and more nuclear power plant designs are being developed, including the floating nuclear power plant. Behind the benefits, one of the safety aspects that must be fulfilled in nuclear power plant design is nuclear emergency preparedness and response. The Nuclear Energy Supervisory Agency (Bapeten) is currently preparing a revision of Government Regulation Number 2 of 2014 concerning the Safety and Security of Nuclear Installations and Regulation of the Head of Bapeten Number 1 of 2010 concerning Nuclear Emergency Preparedness and Management, which contains nuclear emergency preparedness and response. As an international atomic energy agency, the IAEA has also published General Safety Requirements (GSR) Part 7 concerning Preparedness and Response For a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency. Considering the different complexities and challenges, it is necessary to study the implementation of GSR Part 7 on floating nuclear power plants, which can provide input for revising these regulations. This paper was prepared to elaborate on the application of GSR Part 7 for this nuclear power plant design. From the results of the study, it was found that several things need to be implemented for the design of the floating nuclear power plant, such as the nuclear emergency zone, nuclear emergency expansion zone, public communication, and handling of radioactive waste. Keywords: NPP, Floating NPP, preparedness of nuclear emergency,response fornuclear emergency

Радиационная ситуация района расположения плавучей атомной теплоэлектростанции «Академик Ломоносов» в начальный период эксплуатации

The article considers the issues of energy supply to remote sparsely populated Arctic regions of the Russian Federation through the construction of low-capacity nuclear power plants. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated by the successful commissioning in 2019 of a unique floating power plant in the town of Pevek (FNPP Akademik Lomonosov). At the same time, the operation of such facilities raises questions from the local population about possible radioactive contamination of the territory. The absence of a negative impact of FNPP can be confirmed by comparing the radiation characteristics before and after commissioning, as well as by direct measurements of the soil radionuclide composition in the zone of possible impact. To search for changes in the radioecological situation in 2021, screening studies were carried out at the plant location area. An analysis of the monitoring data for radioactive fallout and dose rate in Pevek showed that external exposure from the surface of soil and soil is due only to natural radionuclides of the decay chains of uranium, thorium and 40K. Artificial radionuclides characteristic of NPP emissions were not found in the surveyed areas. The range of values and maximum dose rate levels (µSv/h) before and after commissioning of the FNPP do not differ from each other and coincide with the results of the performed screening assessment of the radiation situation. The results were discussed with the residents of Pevek. The results of the study make it possible to inform the public about the absence of changes in the radiation situation at the FNPP location area in the first years of operation.

Thermal Tolerance of Spotted Sea Bass (Lateolabrax maculatus) and Pearl Gentian Grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus Female × E. lanceolatus Male) in Different Environmental Temperatures

Seawater cooling is the most common way to cool down nuclear power plants. However, the thermal drainage of nuclear power plants results in sharp rises in local seawater temperatures and, therefore, affects fisheries and ecologies. Therefore, evaluating the thermal tolerance of marine organisms not only provides further insight into their biological characteristics but also holds significant importance for the site selection and construction of nuclear power plants. This study investigated the thermal tolerance of spotted sea bass (Lateolabrax maculatus) and pearl gentian grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus female × E. lanceolatus male) using the critical thermal maximum method. The environmental temperatures for spotted sea bass and grouper in spring, summer, autumn, and winter were 21.6/23 °C, 26.5/25.9 °C, 25.0/25.9 °C, and 14.5/16.6 °C, respectively. Under four seasonal conditions, different temperature rise rates of +2 °C, +4 °C, +6 °C, and +8 °C per hour were set. The maximum critical temperature, initial lethal temperature, absolute lethal temperature, and semi-lethal temperature were recorded for both fish species. The results show that the rates of temperature increase did not affect the thermal tolerance of either fish species. In all seasons, the fish experienced rapid death once they reached the initial lethal temperature. However, there was a significant correlation of season with thermal tolerance in both fish species. For spotted sea bass, the semi-lethal temperature in summer reached about 40 °C, while in winter it was about 35 °C. For pearl gentian grouper, the semi-lethal temperature in summer reached about 40 °C, while in winter, it was about 38 °C. These results remind us that these two fish species have a limited ability to adapt to rapid temperature rises, but appropriate acclimation temperatures can effectively improve their thermal tolerance. Therefore, it is necessary to further consider the potential impacts on these fish species during the site selection and construction process of nuclear power plants.

Risk-informed design of advanced nuclear reactor: A target unavailability approach

Incorporating specified safety and production targets during the design phase of an engineered facility can effectively support reductions in construction and operation costs of nuclear power plants. In addition, this supports efforts toward making nuclear power technology more competitive and profitable than other electric power production forms by incorporating operational and design features into the design phase that directly support the increased likelihood of meeting such originating targets. Unavailability is the key parameter to establish plant-level capabilities that cascade down to function, system, and component levels to ensure that all sources of unavailability are addressed in the facility's design phases. In this article, two methods are presented to propose unavailability targets for nuclear reactor systems to risk-inform and optimize the design features, from an availability perspective: the first method is a simple method, and the second is a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm III (NSGA-III) multi-objective optimization. These iterative methods are demonstrated in this paper for a hypothetical facility with a design maturity such that there is knowing the main components to comply with the engineering and security functions of the systems. With an assumed mature design, it is implied that generic data to execute quantitative reliability, and availability analyses are available at the systems levels that are sufficient to support a design-specific probabilistic risk assessment (PRA). The proposed methods modify the probabilities of basic events within the fault tree structures that model system and component unavailability sources that will be required for the facility’s operating license. The methods provided are applied to visualize the characteristics of the problem and the quantitative results. This work forms the basis for future work in which design alternatives affecting unavailabilities can be estimated and compared to their associated unavailability targets at different levels of granularity.

ON RADON ACTIVITY OF TECTONIC FAULTS IN THE AREA OF SITING THE SINOP NPP IN THE REPUBLIC OF TŰRKIYE

Problem statement. The paper provides an additional expanded justification for applying an innovative methodology in the area of the future Sinop NPP, planned to be deployed in the Republic of Tűrkiye, to identify the activity rate of tectonic faults in soil foundation based on comprehensive radon measurements using the PSACEA universal estimation scale. The purpose of the article. Current radon activity assessment of existing tectonic faults in Earth’s crust based on archival measurements of soil radon carried out earlier in Sinop Province. Conclusions and results. Current analysis of radon measurement results obtained previously by the track method made it possible to further assess the radon activity rate of tectonic faults existing in the area of the future nuclear power plant. The proposed methodology to assess radon activity of tectonic faults in Earth’s crust involves increasing safety during the construction and operation of the future nuclear power plant. The regulation on using this methodology as part of the subsurface monitoring at the Sinop NPP can be enshrined in job descriptions. This methodology can also be used as part of the seismic monitoring of other sites at the nuclear power plant, especially those located in high seismic risk zones.